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Capela trade is finalized with 4-team, 12-player

LOS ANGELES — The Rockets completed their transformation to a small-ball team, as the four-team trade sending center Clint Capela from Houston to the Atlanta Hawks was officially announced late Wednesday night.

Less than 24 hours before the NBA’s trade deadline, the Rockets, Hawks, Minnesota Timberwolves and Denver Nuggets completed their deal.

The Rockets get: Robert Covington (from Minnesota); Jordan Bell (from Minnesota); the Golden State Warriors’ 2024 second-round pick (from Atlanta)

The Hawks get: Clint Capela (from Houston); Nene (from Houston)

The Timberwolves get: Malik Beasley (from Denver); Jarred Vanderbilt (from Denver); Juancho Hernangomez (from Denver); Evan Turner (from Atlanta); the Brooklyn Nets’ lottery-protected 2020 first-round pick (from Atlanta)

The Nuggets get: Gerald Green (from Houston); Noah Vonleh (from Minnesota); Shabazz Napier (from Minnesota); Keita Bates-Diop (from Minnesota); the Rockets’ 2020 first-round pick (from Houston)

Green has not played this season because of a broken foot, but he waived his right to veto being included in the trade. He reportedly is expected to be waived by the Nuggets and continue rehabbing.

But the biggest names in the deal — and the ones expected to have the largest immediate impacts on their new teams — are Capela and Covington.

Capela, 25, was rumored in trade discussions for weeks. He missed three of the past four games with a heel injury but is averaging 13.9 points and a career-best 9.5 rebounds per game.

“We are excited to add Clint to our young core,” Hawks general manager Travis Schlenk said in a statement released by the team. “He fills a need for us inside with his ability to protect the rim and rebound at an elite level and offensively, he gives our group another strong finisher and roll man.”

The primary reason the Rockets were looking to move the 6-foot-10 center was his contract. He is in the second year of a five-year, $90 million deal and is due $16 million next season, followed by $17.1 million and $18.2 million in the two seasons after that.

Covington, 29, is averaging 12.8 points and six rebounds this season, and he is shooting a career-best 43.5 percent from the floor while making more than two 3-pointers per game. The 6-7 swing man could fit in nicely alongside James Harden and Russell Westbrook in coach Mike D’Antoni’s offense.

In dealing both Capela and Nene, however, the Rockets are now without a true center — or anything really close to one. According to multiple reports, Houston will play 6-5, 34-year-old swingman P.J. Tucker at center.

Newly acquired Bell is 6-8 and plays center. However, he is having perhaps the worst of his three seasons in the league, sitting on career-low averages in points (3.1), minutes (8.7), steals (0.1) and blocks (0.4). — Reuters

Ceres and Kaya girding for run in AFC Cup

By Michael Angelo S. Murillo
Senior Reporter

TOP local clubs Ceres-Negros FC and Kaya FC-Iloilo begin their AFC Cup 2020 campaigns next week, looking to make a solid run in the tournament.

Ceres, the three-time Philippines Football League champion, and Kaya, the Copa Paulino Alcantara champ in 2018, are lumped in Group G and H, respectively, where they hope to emerge on top of their groupings to earn an outright spot in the ASEAN Zonal Semifinals.

The “Busmen” are coming off a strong push in the AFC Champions League where it came just a win away from advancing to the main draw of the premier club tournament in Asia organized by the Asian Football Confederation.

In this year’s edition of the AFC Cup, Ceres is grouped alongside fellow ASEAN clubs Than Quang Ninh FC (Vietnam), Bali United FC (Indonesia) and Preah Khan Reach Svay Rieng FC (Cambodia).

It first takes on Preah Khan Reach Svay Rieng FC on Feb. 11 in a home game set at the Rizal Memorial Stadium.

While they fell in their quest in the Champions League, the Busmen said it gave them a lot of experience and enhanced their confidence, something they intent on using as they play in the AFC Cup.

In last year’s edition of the tournament, Ceres advanced to the ASEAN semifinals before losing to Ha Noi FC of Vietnam, 3-2.

The year prior, it was able to reach the ASEAN finals but lost to Home United FC of Singapore, 3-1, and in 2017, it was the AZEAN Zonal champion and advanced to the Inter-zone semifinals.

KAYA FC
Kaya, for its part, makes a return trip to the tournament after competing last year, where it failed to get out of group play, finishing with a 2-2-2 record, good for third in its grouping.

In the about-to-start competition, Kaya is joined by Tampines Rovers (Singapore), Shan United (Myanmar) and PSM Makassar (Indonesia).

Kaya will battle Shan United in its first game away on Feb. 12 in Myanmar.

“It’s a tough group again as usual. We go back to Indonesia, we visit Myanmar, and Singapore,” Kaya’s Aly Borromeo said after the official draw for the tournament in December.

To help it in its campaign, the team added new players to its core, with the likes of Roberto Corsame Jr., Carlyle Mitchell of Trinidad & Tobago, and Japanese Daizo Horikoshi now in its fold.

Other ASEAN clubs seeing action in the AFC Cup are Ho Chi Minh City FC (Vietnam), Yangon United (Myanmar), Hougang United (Singapore) and Lao Toyota FC (Laos) in Group F.

Meggie Ochoa: Recent successes a springboard for more achievements

By Michael Angelo S. Murillo
Senior Reporter

JIU-JITSU in the country had a solid finish in international competitions in 2019, earning 11 medals in the 30th Southeast Asian Games, including five gold ones. It is something that serves as further motivation and a good jump-off point for more achievements moving forward. This was according to bemedalled athlete Meggie Ochoa.

One of the athletes who produced gold for the country in the sport at the regional sporting meet which the Philippines hosted in December, the good showing of the national team bodes well, Ms. Ochoa said, as they prepare for competitions ahead.

“It was very overwhelming and very exciting for us to have that kind of showing in the SEA Games. We did get the result that we wanted with the five gold medals. It’s good to celebrate the wins but I hope this provides a push as well moving forward,” said Ms. Ochoa, named one of the 50 greatest Filipino athletes of all-time in the 2020 edition of the Philippines Yearbook, in an interview.

“Now we saw the potential there is in the sport, let’s get more work done because there is still much to do. But surely it is exciting to see the growth of the sport here,” she added.

Ms. Ochoa, who also won gold at the Asian Jiu-Jitsu Championship in Mongolia last year, said for the current year they are using it as preparation ground for the many competitions lined up for the next three years.

“This year is more like a preparation year. The entire sporting world will be focused on the Olympics and jiu-jitsu unfortunately is not yet part of the Games. But our regular competitions will be happening, with the World Championships, Asian Championships and Asian Beach Games,” she said.

“In 2021, the World Games and World Combat Games will take place and to be able to qualify for those competitions, you have to be active this year. Then there is the Asian Games in 2022,” Ms. Ochoa added.

Apart from doing jiu-jitsu, Ms. Ochoa, 29, is a strong advocate of protection of children against sexual violence. She launched the Fight to Protect movement back in 2018 to combat abuses through sports.

In Fight to Protect they use jiu-jitsu and muay thai as a platform to spread awareness on the issue.

Kings send Dedmon to Atlanta for Parker and Len

LOS ANGELES — Less than a day away from the NBA trade deadline, the action picked up Thursday night, and once again the Atlanta Hawks were right in the middle of it.

According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the Hawks are sending Jabari Parker and Alex Len to Sacramento in exchange for Dewayne Dedmon and a pair of second-round picks.

The move initially appears to be a salary dump for Kings, as Len is on an expiring contract and Parker has a $6.5 million player option for next season. Dedmon, on the other hand, is in the first year of a three-year, $40 million contract.

On Wednesday night, the Hawks were part of a reported four-team, 12-player trade that saw big men Clint Capela and Nene move to Atlanta from Houston, while the Hawks sent Evan Turner and a draft pick to Minnesota.

The 7-foot Len, 26, is in his seventh NBA season. He signed with Atlanta in summer 2018 after five seasons in Phoenix. He is averaging 8.7 points and 5.8 rebounds in 40 games this season, starting nine times and averaging 18.6 minutes per game. The minutes are his fewest since his rookie season in 2013-14.

Parker, 24, was the No. 2 overall pick in 2014. The 6-foot-8 guard spent the first four seasons of his career in Milwaukee. He signed with Chicago before the 2018-19 season, was traded to Washington later that season, and signed with the Hawks as a free agent last July.

He is averaging 15 points and six rebounds in 32 games this season. He has 23 starts and averages 26.2 minutes per game.

Dedmon, 30, is averaging 15.9 minutes and has played in 34 games with 10 starts this season — his first in Sacramento after two in Atlanta. He is averaging 5.1 points and 4.9 rebounds per game this season.

He has played with six teams in his seven-year career and has career averages of 6.4 points and 5.9 rebounds in 384 games. — Reuters

Atlanta Hawks hand Minnesota Timberwolves 13th straight loss

LOS ANGELES — Trae Young and John Collins each produced a double-double to lead the Atlanta Hawks a 127-120 win over Minnesota on Wednesday in Minneapolis, handing the Timberwolves their 13th consecutive loss.

Young scored 38 points, hitting six 3-pointers, and had 11 assists for his 19th double-double this season. It was the 26th time Young has scored 30-plus points.

Colins had 27 points, making 11 of 19 shots from the floor, and grabbed 12 rebounds. It was his fifth straight double-double and 14th of the season.

Minnesota made a late run at the Hawks and cut their deficit to 122-117 when Josh Okogie drove for a dunk with 48.4 seconds remaining. However, Atlanta veteran Vince Carter hit a 3-pointer out of the ensuing timeout with 34.5 seconds left to restore an eight-point lead.

Atlanta ended its two-game losing streak. The two clubs split the season series.

Both teams had only 11 players active because of pending trades. Atlanta’s Evan Turner and Minnesota’s Robert Covington, two players rumored to be part of a four-team deal, were not available.

Atlanta’s Damian Jones added 14 points and eight rebounds, and De’Andre Hunter returned from missing two games due to an ankle sprain to score 12.

Minnesota had three players score 20-plus points, led by Andrew Wiggins with 25 points and seven rebounds. Okogie added 23 points, making 8 of 11 from the floor, and Karl-Anthony Towns had 21 points and 11 rebounds.

The Hawks set the pace early by shooting 67% in the first quarter, making 14 of 21 from the field, and took a 36-24 advantage. Atlanta stretched the lead to 43-28 in the second quarter when Collins drained a 3-pointer. The Hawks led 64-56 at halftime, with Young scoring 20. — Reuters

Dodgers to acquire Betts and Price from Red Sox

LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Dodgers are set to acquire stars Mookie Betts and David Price from Boston Red Sox, multiple media outlets reported Tuesday night.

Outfielder Alex Verdugo would head to Boston in the deal that also reportedly would include the Minnesota Twins. Right-hander Kenta Maeda would move from the Dodgers to the Twins, with right-hander Brusdar Graterol moving from Minnesota to Boston.

Numerous reports stated that the deal is incomplete pending medical reviews of the principals.

Betts, a 27-year-old right fielder, was the American League’s Most Valuable Player in 2018, when he helped lead the Red Sox to the World Series championship. He will make $27 million in 2020 after avoiding arbitration, and he has stated his plans to head into free agency next winter.

In an attempt to get something back for Betts before losing him, the Red Sox also apparently found a way to unload Price’s bloated contract. Price, a 34-year-old left-hander who is a former Cy Young Award winner, still has three years and $96 million left on the seven-year, $217 million deal he signed in December 2015.

MLB Network’s Jon Heyman reported that the Dodgers are expected to pay about half of the $96 million owed to Price, with other reports confirming the Red Sox did send cash to the Dodgers as part of the deal.

Betts is a four-time All-Star and a four-time Gold Glove winner. In 2019, hit .295 with a .391 on-base percentage, a .524 slugging percentage, 29 homers, 80 RBIs and a major-league-high 135 runs. A year earlier, his batting line was .346/.438/.640 with 32 homers, 80 RBIs and big-league-leading 129 runs. He also topped the AL in batting average and slugging percentage in 2018.

For his six-year career, all with the Red Sox, Betts has a .301/.374/.519 batting line with 139 homers, 470 RBIs and 613 runs in 794 games.

Price, slowed by injuries numerous times in his career, went 7-5 with a 4.28 ERA in 22 starts last year. The five-time All-Star is 150-80 with a 3.31 ERA in 321 career games (311 starts) for the Tampa Bay Rays, Detroit Tigers, Toronto Blue Jays and Boston.

Verdugo, 23, hit .294/.342/.475 with 12 homers and 44 RBIs in 106 games for Los Angeles in 2019, appearing at all three outfield positions. Over three major league seasons, all with the Dodgers, he has a .282/.335/.449 hitting line with 14 homers and 49 RBIs in 158 games.

Maeda, 31, finished 10-8 with a 4.04 ERA in 37 games (26 starts) last year in his fourth season with the Dodgers. His career record is 47-35 with a 3.87 ERA in 137 games (103 starts).

Graterol, 21, broke into the majors with the Twins in September, going 1-1 with a 4.66 ERA in 10 relief appearances. In 18 minor league games at three levels last year, he went a combined 7-0 with one save and a 1.92 ERA in 18 games (11 starts). — Reuters

Spend low, win small

The whiff of the trade that sent Mookie Betts to the Dodgers came midway through what was supposed to be the Red Sox’s season of consolidation. With a World Series victory in their immediate past, they began their 2019 campaign with the promise of continued contention off a largely intact lineup. Unfortunately, they wound up underperforming for a variety of reasons — and, crucially, despite the efforts of the 2018 American League Most Valuable Player. With the repeater tax slated to add a whopping 50% to the defending champions‘ bill, ownership decided keeping him sans any guarantee of success was not worth the considerable cost.

Perhaps the Red Sox wouldn’t have dealt Betts were he willing to accept their extension terms of $300 million at 10 years. Unfortunately, he wasn’t in the mood to give them a significant discount; he felt, and rightly, that his counteroffer of $420 million for a dozen seasons better reflected his market value. And so they dealt him, with their plans all but set in stone as soon as they opted to hire Chaim Bloom as replacement for Dave Dombrowski last October. In stark contrast to the latter’s win-now-even-at-considerable-expense mindset, their new chief baseball officer hitherto made waves with the Rays for frugal spending predicated on advanced stats, albeit not necessarily with grand on-field intentions.

Granted, the Red Sox emerged from the deal having carved exactly the outcome they desired. In letting go of Betts and rotation regular David Price vice pitcher Brusdar Graterol and outfielder Alex Verdigo, they managed to get under the payroll cap and reset their luxury-levy clock while still staying respectable on paper. Then again, their situation arguably called for the continued courting of goodwill. They’re still reeling from the technology-aided cheating alleged to have helped them take the title; apart from a parting of ways with manager Alex Cora, they face a significant penalty from commissioner Rob Manfred. At the very least, they could have relied on the presence of one of the best players in franchise history to temper the fallout.

Instead, the Red Sox went for the quick win. Never mind the humongous increase in their market value. Forget that the fans deserve to cheer for something — anything, really — in the midst of the biggest scandal ever to rock them. Time was when they ventured to throw caution to the wind at every turn, accumulating notable names in a bid to be first among equals. These days, they’re clearly content to spend low and win small, even if it means diverting talent to the competition. In short, they’ve become the Rays, and the Dodgers are only too happy to reap the benefits of their pivot.

 

Anthony L. Cuaycong has been writing Courtside since BusinessWorld introduced a Sports section in 1994. He is a consultant on strategic planning, operations and Human Resources management, corporate communications, and business development.

Duterte not open to new water contract negotiation

PRESIDENT RODRIGO R. Duterte has reiterated that he is not open to negotiations over the revised deals that will be offered to Metro Manila’s two water concessionaires unless they pay consumers back the money collected based on the previous “onerous contracts.”

“Give us back the money. Give it back to the people and maybe we can talk about solving your problem,” Mr. Duterte said in a speech at the Malacañang Palace on Thursday.

In early January, the President said he is offering new contracts to Manila Water Co., Inc. and Maynilad Water Services, Inc., with a warning that he will pursue charges against the two companies should they reject the terms and conditions.

“Theyr’e trying to reach out for a settlement. Let’s see if it develops. Talagang galit ako (I’m really mad),” Mr. Duterte said.

The Department of Justice has been tasked to draft the new contract, which is expected to be finalized within six months.

Mr. Duterte has accused the water concessionaires of “economic sabotage” after Manila Water disclosed on Nov. 29 last year that it won P7.39 billion in an arbitration case with the government brought before an international tribunal.

Maynilad won a similar case in July 24, 2017, with an award of P3.42 billion.

Both companies, however, have said during congressional hearings late last year that they no longer intend to collect the amount.

The President also repeated his threat that he is prepared to put back the capital’s water distribution services under the government’s management.

“I am not afraid there will be no water because I will take over and just nationalize water in the Philippines,” he said.

One of Maynilad’s shareholders, Metro Pacific Investments Corp. (MPIC), is one of three Philippine units of Hong Kong-based First Pacific Co. Ltd., the others being PLDT, Inc. and Philex Mining Corp. Hastings Holdings, Inc. — a unit of PLDT Beneficial Trust Fund subsidiary MediaQuest Holdings, Inc. — maintains interest in BusinessWorld through the Philippine Star Group, which it controls. — Gillian M. Cortez

Peso climbs as equities rebound

THE PESO strengthened further on Thursday. — BW FILE PHOTO

THE PESO ended stronger against the greenback on Thursday as global equities and the local stock market continued to recover.

The local currency gained 14 centavos to close at P50.78 versus dollar on Thursday from the P50.92-per-dollar close on Wednesday.

The local unit opened the session slightly weaker at P50.82 against the greenback. Its lowest point for the day was at P50.83, while its strongest showing was at P50.73 per dollar.

Total dollars traded yesterday slightly declined to $917.8 million from the previous day’s $930.6 million.

A trader from a local bank interviewed said the recovery in the equity market, both local and globally, indicated a “risk-on” signal for investors, causing the peso to strengthen against the dollar.

“[The peso strengthened] mainly due to a bit of a risk on sentiment given some rally in US equities, actually global equities rallied yesterday (Wednesday) and even now, our equity market rallied by 2%,” the trader said over telephone.

Meanwhile, the second trader attributed the gains to “optimism over prospects to curing the [novel] coronavirus and reduced market uncertainty after [US President Donald J.] Trump was acquitted by the US Senate earlier today.”

Local shares went up on Thursday along with the rest of global equities after taking a slump due to concerns on the novel coronavirus outbreak.

The benchmark Philippine Stock Exchange index went up by 2.09% to close at 7,506.51 on Thursday, along with the Wall Street, as well as stocks in Asia.

Meanwhile, Reuters reported that the US Senate acquitted Mr. Trump on both impeachment charges after enough US senators, 34 as of reporting, voted that he is not guilty of abusing powers.

The votes fell short of the two-thirds majority vote needed out of 100, to convict Mr. Trump and remove him from presidency.

Back home, after the market’s close, the Monetary Board said they trimmed benchmark policy rates by 25 basis points (bps), which brought the overnight reverse repurchase, overnight deposit and lending down to 3.75%, 3.25% and 4.25%, respectively.

“We saw some dollar-peso selling even though the BSP cut rates by 25 bps just now, I think it was already priced in eh that’s why despite the cuts, we see the rates a bit trading lower offshore or after market,” the trader said.

As the market reacts to the policy rate cut, the second trader said the local unit may weaken on Friday.

In a BusinessWorld poll last week, 10 out of 13 analysts projected the BSP MB will cut key policy rates by 25 bps.

For Friday, the first trader gave a P50.60-P50.80 per dollar forecast range while the second trader said the peso may trade within the P50.75-50.95 per dollar band. — Beatrice M. Laforga

PSE index rises to 7,500 level on firms’ earnings

By Denise A. Valdez, Reporter

THE MAIN INDEX continued to gain ground on Thursday to break into the 7,500 level and recover following more than a week of decline.

The bellwether Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) gained 153.66 points or 2.09% to 7,506.51 each on Thursday, while the broader all shares index improved 68.47 points or 1.57% to 4,422.72.

“Lately, there has been a shift of focus from the coronavirus concerns to market fundamentals. Attractive valuations are finally getting the spotlight backed by 2019 earnings anticipation,” Philstocks Financial, Inc. Senior Research Analyst Japhet Louis O. Tantiangco said in a text message.

The PSEi posted a six-day losing streak due to concerns over the novel coronavirus outbreak. Investor worries pulled the market down since Jan. 27 until it hit its lowest on Feb. 3 at 7,137.03.

It started gaining ground on Tuesday as worries on the virus subsided, mainly after China’s central bank helped stabilize its markets through the injection of $57 billion into the banking system.

Mr. Tantiangco said the rising of the main index is seen to keep its momentum today, as investors are likely to react on the Philippine central bank’s reduction of benchmark rates by 25 basis points.

“Adding to today’s optimism was the awaited policy rate cut by the BSP (Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas) which we saw just awhile ago, a 25 basis point reduction to policy rates,” he said on Thursday.

In Asia, most markets were also able to sustain their upswing in recent days: Japan’s Nikkei 225 and Topix climbed 2.38% and 2.07% respectively, China’s Shanghai Shenzhen CSI 300 and Shanghai SE Composite added 1.86% and 1.72% respectively, and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index rose 2.64%,

Most Southeast Asian stock markets also rose on Thursday as investors picked up beaten-down stocks.

While most indexes clocked small gains in the last two sessions, current levels stand nowhere close to what they were at before Jan. 20 when the outbreak first drew the attention of global markets.

At home, all sectoral indices increased on Thursday’s close: property picked up 152.97 points or 3.94% to 4,027; industrials rose 170.80 points or 1.85% to 9,384.98; financials climbed 25.59 points or 1.45% to 1,784.38; holding firms gained 91.65 points or 1.29% to 7,172.04; services added 16.99 points or 1.13% to 1,510.58; and mining and oil went up 68.46 points or 0.93% to 7,369.45.

Value turnover was lower at P7.04 billion with 6.22 billion issues from Wednesday’s P9.07 billion with 1.27 billion issues changing hands.

Advancers outnumbered decliners, 115 against 70, while 46 names ended unchanged.

Foreign investors stayed bullish, logging net purchases worth P1.43 billion, slightly lower than Thursday’s P1.54 billion. — with Reuters

Former MRT-3 head Vitangcol found guilty of graft

THE PHILIPPINE’S anti-graft court has convicted Al Sanchez Vitangcol III, former Metro Rail Transit-Line 3 (MRT-3) general manager, and his uncle-in-law, Arturo V. Soriano, for graft and violations to the government’s procurement law over the rail system’s maintenance deal in 2012.

In a decision promulgated on January 31, the Sandiganbayan Third Division said Mr. Vitangcol acted with “evident bad faith” by entering into a maintenance contract with Philippine Trans Rail Management and Services Corp. (PH Trams) and neglected to disclose that Mr. Soriano is one of the company’s incorporators.

“In this case, accused Soriano is clearly in conspiracy with accused Vitangcol III. He knew from the start that his firm has dealings with DOTC (Department of Transportation and Communications) wherein his nephew-in-law, accused Vitangcol III, is a member of the BAC (Bids and Awards Committee) and team leader of the Negotiating Team, among others. Yet, he did not divulge this relationship to the Board of Directors of PH Trams and to the BAC,” part of the decision reads.

During the case proceedings, Mr. Vitangcol argued that when he discovered Mr. Soriano is one of the incorporators of PH Tram, he immediately contacted him about his involvement.

In response, Mr. Soriano claimed that he already divested his shares in the company by executing a Deed of Assignment dated September 10, 2012, which transferred all his shares and interests to co-accused Marlo de la Cruz, the chairman of PH Trams.

Mr. Vitangcol said he then “firmly believed” that Mr. Soriano was no longer connected to PH Trams.

The Sandiganbayan, however, was not persuaded saying that “accused Vitangcol III, although admitting knowing one of the incorporators of PH Trams to be a relative by affinity, chose to remain silent during the entire procurement process.”

“To Our minds, this is a clear breach of his sworn duty as a public official.”

The court also asserted that Mr. Vitangcol failed to verify Mr. Soriano’s claim.

“Furthermore, accused Vitangcol III could have easily determined, with some reasonable due diligence, whether co-accused Soriano remained connected with PH Trams or had indeed divested himself of any interest therefrom. A mere representation or say-so from accused Soriano was not enough,” the decision said.

The two are sentenced to an “indeterminate penalty ranging from six years and one month, as minimum, to eight years, as maximum” in prison.

They have also been penalized with “perpetual absolute disqualification” from holding public office. — Genshen L. Espedido

VFA termination notice ready but DFA still wary

By Charmaine A. Tadalan, Reporter

THE DEPARTMENT of Foreign Affairs (DFA) is ready to send the termination notice on the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) with the United States, even as the country’s top envoy said such a move would place the Philippines on the “losing end.”

“I have prepared a notice of termination, but it has not been sent upon the orders of the President,” Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro L. Locsin, Jr. said in a Senate inquiry on Thursday.

President Rodrigo R. Duterte on January 23 threatened to terminate the VFA, giving the US government 30 days to reverse the cancelation of a senator’s visa.

Senator Ronald M. dela Rosa, a political ally of the President and former police chief, had confirmed his visa had been canceled, which was linked to the detention of Senator Leila M. de Lima and the alleged extrajudicial killings in the administration’s drug war.

On top of this, the US Senate passed a resolution asking the Philippine government to release Ms. de Lima.

The plan to abrogate the VFA was followed by the President’s directive for Cabinet members to “boycott” trips to the US and Mr. Duterte’s plan to skip the US-Association of Southeast Asian Nations Summit in March.

With these, Mr. Locsin said the “VFA is the logical target when the (Philippine’s) sovereign justice system is disrespected.”

Nonetheless, Mr. Locsin said the benefits of retaining the VFA outweigh the country’s interest in pushing through with the termination.

He explained that in the absence of a VFA, other PH-US defense agreements, such as the Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) and the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA), will be inoperative.

“For the MDT, the VFA is a substance that makes it real and makes it work. EDCA is hinged on the VFA,” he said.

Mr. Locsin also cited that the VFA paves the way for the US Defense department to source funding for Philippine military assistance and continued support in addressing non-traditional security threats such as human trafficking, cyberattacks terrorism and illegal narcotics.

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