A CABINET group has recommended a review instead of the immediate termination of an agreement with the US on the deployment of troops and equipment for war games.

The Cabinet cluster on security, justice and peace endorsed a further review of the visiting forces agreement (VFA), Justice Secretary Menardo I. Guevarra told reporters in a group message.

President Rodrigo R. Duterte earlier ordered the Justice department to study a plan to end the VFA after the US government canceled a Senate ally’s visa.

The Cabinet cluster will submit a report this week, but other agencies may opt to submit their own impact assessment separately, he said.

“The DoJ report will consolidate the assessment made by other concerned executive agencies,” Mr. Guevarra said. “We have no direct information about the comments of the Senate, but coincidentally, the suggestion of some senators to review the VFA happened to be one of the options considered by the cabinet cluster.”

“A firmer picture will come out after the top-level meeting with the Presidential Commission on Visiting Forces tomorrow,” he added.

The Makabayan bloc, a coalition of 12 party lists at the House of Representatives, last week filed a resolution for the termination of “onerous” military agreements between the US and the Philippines, including the VFA, the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement and Mutual Defense Treaty. — Vann Marlo M. Villegas

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