MANILA, Philippines — Once again President Rodrigo Duterte showed firmness against subtle United States “bullying” as he threatened Thursday to terminate the Visiting Forces Agreement unless Washington “corrects” the sudden cancellation of Sen. Bato dela Rosa’s visa.

His timeline: One month.

“I’m warning you, this is the first time. Kapag hindi ninyo ginawa ang correction diyan. One, I will terminate the Visiting Forces Agreement. Tapusin ko yang p***** *** na ‘yan,” Duterte said in a speech in San Isidro, Leyte.

“I am giving notice and they begin to count. I am giving government and the American government one month from now.”

The VFA was signed in 1998. It allows American and Filipino troops to conduct joint trainings in Philippine soil.

Still on the visa issue, Duterte also rejected US President Donald Trump’s invitation for him to attend a summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations leaders in Las Vegas in March.

According to Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo the Chief Executive is having some hesitations as might not be granted US visa for the occasion.

Sen. Dela Rosa told the media last Wednesday that America canceled his visa but did not specify why it was revoked adding that he was only informed that he could apply again.

But some quarters aver and the senator himself believes the cancellation has something to do with allegations of extrajudicial killings during his stint as the chief of the Philippine National Police.

It may be recalled, the US Senate has recently also passed a resolution invoking the Global Magnitsky Act that would allow US President Donald Trump to impose sanctions on Philippine officials involved in the detention of Sen. Leila de Lima and in alleged extrajudicial killings in the conduct of the government’s crackdown against illegal drugs. (Ismael Amigo/Currentph.com)