Duterte bent on rejecting EU aid, grants – Palace

President Duterte is bent on rejecting aids or grants from European nations that think they are the “children of God,” a Palace official said yesterday.

Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar said it was not right that some foreign nations meddle with the affairs of another sovereign state.

“Ang sabi po ng Pangulo ay hindi po (The President already said no)… Kung ano ang sinabi ng Pangulo, iyon na iyon (The President’s pronouncement is what it is),” he said in a radio interview, when asked if the government will still accept donations from the European Union (EU).

“Kasi ang problema ho kasi, eh marami ho kasing mga NGO, organizations, mga… ano ba iyong mga anak ng Diyos doon sa Europe na pakiramdam nila ay ayos lang na makialam sa ating pulitika sa bansa natin, hindi naman tama iyon (The problem is there are many non government organizations, those children of God in Europe who feel it’s okay to meddle in the country’s political affairs. That’s not correct),” he added.

Following criticisms on his drug war, the President recently declared he was not keen on accepting any aid from the EU for supposedly disrespecting the country’s sovereignty. He claimed the country could survive without the foreign aid that came with conditions.

Malacañang later clarified that the government was open to keeping trade ties with EU, and “not too much to aid and grants with conditions.”

“If certain conditionalities are tied to the aid and grant, we must respectfully decline as we do not wish to subject ourselves to monitoring or be dictated to,” Presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella said.