Justice Carpio explains the constitutional ban on nuclear weapons in the Philippines and analyzes President Duterte’s vow to terminate the Visiting Forces Agreement if proof of U.S. nuclear weapon storage is found on Philippine soil.
Justice Carpio criticizes the President’s “no vaccine, no VFA” ultimatum linking U.S. vaccine delivery to the Visiting Forces Agreement, explaining how advance payment mechanisms and misreading of procurement law undermine access to Western COVID-19 vaccines and risk geopolitical leverage.
Justice Carpio argues that terminating the Visiting Forces Agreement would weaken Philippine defenses in the West Philippine Sea by removing a key deterrent against Chinese aggression and eroding military cooperation with the United States.
Justice Carpio explains how policy shifts and rhetoric by President Duterte—including moves toward VFA abrogation and reduced joint military cooperation—have weakened deterrence and the Philippines’ defenses in the West Philippine Sea, undermining constitutional duties to protect maritime sovereign rights.