Philippines' Duterte fully restores key troop pact with United States Toggle share menu Advertisement Philippines' Duterte fully restores key troop pact with United States The 1998 Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) is the legal framework for the presence of American troops on Philippine soil, and is central to the two nations' hundreds of annual military exercises. (File photo: AFP/Ted Aljibe) 30 Jul 2021 12:30PM Share this content Bookmark MANILA: President Rodrigo Duterte has restored a crucial pact governing the presence of US troops in the Philippines, the two countries' defence ministers said on Friday (Jul 30), reversing a decision that had caused increasing concern in Washington and Manila.