President Rodrigo Duterte abandons plans to end crucial defence deal between Philippines and the United States President Rodrigo Duterte last year declared he was going to end the agreement that brings thousands of US soldiers into the Philippines for war exercises, but as tensions with China rise he has reconsidered. 30 July 2021 The Philippines has abandoned plans to abort a crucial defence agreement with the United States, delivering a major strategic win to the Biden Administration. Philippines' President Rodrigo Duterte last year issued a formal notice to tear up the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA), which provides the legal framework for US troops in the South-East Asian nation.