Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana announced Duterte's decision at a joint meeting with reporters Friday with his visiting U.S.

would hand over a document to Austin about Duterte's decision to keep the Visiting Forces Agreement in a separate meeting later Friday.

Austin welcomed Duterte's decision, which he said would help bolster defense relations between the longtime allies.

government in February 2020 that the Philippines intended to abrogate the 1998 agreement, which allows the entry of large numbers of American forces for joint combat training with Philippine troops and sets legal terms for their temporary stay.