On Terminating the Philippine-US Bases Treaty

“Today marks a historic moment for all Filipinos. We have taken the first step in terminating an agreement that was executed in 1947 during the days of lingering US colonialism. This morning’s action of the Philippine panel signals to the nation a resolve to chart a new and truly independent course in which all dealings with foreign governments shall uphold the dignity and sovereignty of the Philippines. All Filipinos must bear in mind that ours is one nation, with one future. We must continue to build a nation which is peaceful, prosperous and proud — a nation for ourselves and for our children.”

— The Philippine Government, represented by the Philippine Panel on the US Bases Exploratory Talks, issuing a Notice of Termination of the 1947 Military Bases Agreement on May 15, 1990, a day after both countries formally held exploratory talks about the matter at the  Central Bank (now Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas) building in Manila. The announcement above was read by panel spokesperson and then Tourism Undersecretary Rafael Alunan (who would later become Local Govt. Secretary) and cited in the book, A Matter of Honor: The Story of the 1990-91 RP-US Bases Treaty written by ex-Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Alfredo R. A. Bengzon, who was vice-chair of the Philippine panel