THE Senate Committee on Foreign Relations on Monday opened a formal review of newly ratified defense and legal treaties to ensure they uphold national sovereignty and provide mutual benefit.
The panel chaired by Sen. Erwin Tulfo – before the Senate leadership changed hands Monday night, with Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano becoming the new Senate President — examined the status of Visiting Forces Agreements with Canada and New Zealand, as well as the recently ratified ASEAN Treaty on Extradition.
“By opening our doors to middle powers like Canada and New Zealand, we are building a broader coalition to secure the Indo-Pacific and improve our disaster response. But let me be clear, hosting foreign troops is never just a routine administrative matter. It is a profound issue of sovereignty,” Tulfo said.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ratified the defense agreements with Canada and New Zealand in March and April as part of efforts to strengthen the country’s international security partnerships.
During the hearing, the committee reviewed provisions covering criminal jurisdiction, custody arrangements, and environmental liability to ensure the agreements provide genuine reciprocity.
Lawmakers also evaluated the ASEAN extradition treaty, which aims to strengthen regional cooperation against cross-border crimes such as human trafficking and cyber fraud.
Sen. Loren Legarda compared the provisions of the new agreements with existing defense treaties involving Australia and Japan.
Legarda also raised questions on how the accords align with existing domestic laws on maritime security and sovereign rights.
Meanwhile, Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. gave the panel a formal briefing on the operational aspects of the visiting forces agreements.
Tulfo also sought assurances that the ASEAN extradition pact would be used strictly for criminal justice purposes and not as a tool for political persecution.
“Our constitutional mandate requires us to test the strength, fairness, and absolute necessity of these agreements,” he said.
