(UPDATED)

PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte again extended for another six months the suspension of the abrogation of the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) between the Philippines and the United States.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. made the announcement on Monday night in a short video message after meeting with the President and Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose Manuel Romualdez on the subject of the VFA.

'The President conveyed to us his decision to extend the suspension of the abrogation of the Visiting Forces Agreement by another six months,' Locsin said.

He said Duterte wanted 'both sides [to] further address his concerns regarding particular aspects of the agreement.'

It was in November 2020 when Duterte last decided to extend again - for another six months the suspension of the abrogation of the VFA between the two countries.

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) had said that the suspension of the termination of the VFA 'is for six months and is extendable for another six months.'

Asked what were those particular concerns of the President, DFA's Strategic Communications Executive Director Marie Yvette Abalos said, 'We are waiting for the guidance from the Palace on the specific areas the President would like to look more closely into.'

Pressed as to when the official end of the suspension would be, Abalos said, 'We have to check with our American affairs office first on what the official reckoning date will be, usually it is from the time the other party has been officially notified.'

Locsin, upon orders from the President, sent on February 11, a Notice of Withdrawal of the VFA to the United States Embassy in Manila.

According to Article 9 of the VFA between the Philippines and the US, the withdrawal of American troops should take effect within 180 days from the receipt of the notice of withdrawal.

The President terminated the VFA between Manila and Washington in February after the US canceled Sen. Ronald 'Bato' dela Rosa's visa and due to alleged 'series of disrespectful acts' by some American legislators toward the Duterte administration.