You have submitted an FOI request
Date: Jan. 17, 2023, 2:17 p.m.
Your request is already in review
Date: 2023-01-27 13:38:50.000000
Your request was denied
Date: 2023-01-27 13:43:24.000000
How was your request?
Published by Department of Foreign Affairs(DFA) on Jan. 17, 2023.
Requested from DFA by S. Tomacruz at 02:17 PM on
Jan. 17, 2023.
Purpose: Research, media reports
Date of Coverage: 08/01/2021 - 01/17/2023
Tracking no: #DFA-243693787261
Requesting for a copy of the "technical agreement" to the Philippines and US' Visiting Forces Agreement which was signed and in effect since August 2021, as confirmed by former foreign affairs secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr and former defense secretary Delfin Lorenzana. The technical agreement accompanies the following: "Agreement Between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines and the Government of the United States of America Regarding the Treatment of United States Armed Forces"
January 27, 2023 Dear Sofia Carmen, Thank you for your request dated Jan 17, 2023 02:17:39 PM under Executive Order No. 2 (s. 2016) on Freedom of Information in the Executive Branch, for Philippines-United States Visiting Forces Agreement - Technical Agreement. We received your request on Jan 17, 2023 02:17:39 PM and will respond on or before Feb 07, 2023 02:17:39 PM, in accordance with the Executive Order's implementing rules and regulations. Should you have any questions regarding your request, kindly contact me using the reply function on the eFOI portal at https://www.foi.gov.ph/requests/aglzfmVmb2ktcGhyHQsSB0NvbnRlbnQiEERGQS0yNDM2OTM3ODcyNjEM, for request with ticket number #DFA-243693787261. Thank you. Respectfully, FOI Receiving Officer FOI Officer
While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance, upon further evaluation of your request, please be advised that the “Inventory of Exemptions to Executive Order Number 2 S. 2016” Section 2 states as follows: “Privileged information relating to national security, defense or international relations... information, record, or document that must be kept secret in the interest of national defense and security... Diplomatic negotiations and other information required to be kept secret in the conduct of foreign affairs...” The need to keep diplomatic communications inviolable is recognized in international law as well as in the Inventory of Exceptions to Executive Order No. 2, the order which operationalized the right to information. The information you are requesting is a document belonging to this category. DFA is, therefore, constrained by law from issuing copies of the subject documents to the public.