By Genalyn Kabiling

The entire Cabinet remains supportive of President Duterte and his decision to terminate the country’s visiting forces agreement (VFA) with the United States, two Palace officials said Friday.

The latest Palace assurance was made to dispute Senator Panfilo Lacson’s pronouncement that several Cabinet officials are opposed to the abrogation of the military deal with the United States.

“All members of the Cabinet support PRRD’s (President Rodrigo Roa Duterte) foreign policy,” Panelo said in a message to Palace reporters.

Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles also affirmed that all Cabinet members continued to rally behind the President and his decision on the VFA.

“Let me assure everybody that when the President makes a decision, all, the entire Cabinet will support him there and that includes VFA,” he said over CNN Philippines Friday.

Lacson earlier claimed that the President’s decision to terminate the two-decade-old military agreement with the United States did not have the full support of the Cabinet. He said he talked to several cabinet members and learned about their sentiment.

Nograles however dismissed Lacson’s claim about the Cabinet as “just speculation.” He said the senator has not identified the Cabinet officials who allegedly resisted the termination of the military deal with the United States.

“He did not want to name them. Mahirap naman ‘yan (That’s difficult). You’re putting a question mark on all of the heads of all the Cabinet members,” he said.

“As the Cabinet Secretary, I’m assuring the public that when the President says something, gives a directive or makes a decision, the entire Cabinet is behind him,” he said.

The Philippine government recently notified the United States about its desire to terminate the VFA, which governs the conduct of visiting American troops to the country. The termination will take effect after 180 days from receipt of the US government last February 11.

The President moved to terminate the country’s military arrangement with the United States after denouncing its alleged meddling in the country’s affairs. He was recently peeved at the cancellation of the US visa of former police chief and now Senator Ronald dela Rosa.

In a recent speech at the Palace, the President declared that Philippines could survive without the United States in defense of his decision to nullify the security pact. He maintained that the Filipino troops could fight terrorists and other extremists without US military assistance.

“If we can’t do it, we have no business being a Republic. You might as well choose. We can be a territory of the Americans or we can be a province of China if we can’t do it,” he said.

Nograles explained that the President has been “consistent” in implementing the country’s independent foreign policy. He said the country remains a friend to all and enemy to none.

“All he is saying is that hindi tayo puwede mag-side na kahit sino. That’s why nagdesisyon tayo sa VFA dahil ang gusto natin independent foreign policy (We will not take sides with anyone. That’s why we decided on the VFA because we want an independent foreign policy),” he said.

“Hindi tayo doon sa isa, hindi tayo don sa isa. Tayo ay kaibigan ng lahat. Walang kalaban. Walang pinapanigan. Independent tayo. Hindi patali kanino man. (We won’t take side of one or another. We are a friend to everyone, enemy to none. We don’t take sides. We are independent. We won’t be tied down with anyone),” he said.

Read more: Cabinet members, military ‘have reservations, apprehensions’ over VFA abrogation – Lacson