EU congratulates Rody, supports peace process
The European Union (EU) congratulated president-elect Rodrigo Duterte as it reiterated its continued support for the Mindanao peace process.
In a congratulatory letter to Duterte, EU Council President Donald Tusk and European Commission President Jean Claude-Juncker said the Philippines and the EU share a close partnership grounded in a long history and in strong mutual interests.
They said the EU counts on the country’s continued support for EU’s aspiration to join the East Asia Summit.
“We are encouraged by the dynamic development of our relations and look forward to working with you on further strengthening our political, economic, trade and development cooperation,” Tusk and Juncker said.
The Philippines- EU partnership cooperation agreement is expected to enter into force later this year.
Meanwhile, after Duterte justified killing journalists who took bribes or engaged in other corrupt activities, the United Kingdom’s top diplomat in the Philippines said there is no excuse to kill members of the media “however much you disagree with them.”
“The UK standards are unchanged. We are totally committed to the elimination and condemnation of the killing of journalists in going about their work,” Ambassador Asif Ahmad told reporters during the reception for Queen Elizabeth II’s 90th birthday at his residence on Thursday night.
“There’s no excuse for journalists, however much you disagree with them, to have them killed and get away with it,” he added.
The Philippines, he said, has a “terrible” record of media violence that needs to be improved.
The incoming president was asked during a press conference on Tuesday how he would address the problem of media killings in the Philippines after a reporter was shot dead in Manila last week.
He replied: “Just because you’re a journalist you are not exempted from assassination, (even) if you’re a son of a bitch.”
Media groups expressed outrage at Duterte’s endorsement of killing corrupt journalists.
Although the ambassador did not condemn Duterte’s statement as he has not formally assumed office, he said the president-elect is expected to have a different tone since he represents the whole nation.
“There is a huge responsibility for office holders to show respect for the office that they hold and respect for the people that they have the privilege to govern,” Ahmad said. “As president Duterte, we expect a different tone because everything he says will be on behalf of the nation. This is not an issue where he is speaking personally.”
Asked about the presidentelect wolf-whistling a female reporter, Ahmad said, “We have very, very clear unshakeable standards of behavior and we would expect nothing less than that from any leader of this great country.
“We have great respect for gender equality and also on people’s sexual orientation. There is no space in our mindset for any form of discrimination or any form of abuse,” he stressed.
Incoming foreign affairs secretary Perfecto Yasay Jr. believed Duterte’s controversial remarks will not harm the Philippines’ relations with other countries if he is not misinterpreted.
“There were a lot of misinterpretation and misunderstanding on what he was trying to say. Most of his statements were taken out of context and I am sure that our local media… play an important role to make sure that these concerns will not be blown out of proportion,” Yasay said.
“This alarm or concern of our friends and allies in the international community will not be there if they fully understand (Duterte’s remarks).”
Duterte’s statements, he said, should not be taken as policy statements since he has not yet formally assumed the presidency.
“He is just enjoying this time as a mayor to say these things that he has always been free in expressing. But he promised that when he sits down, he will be different because when he speaks at that point, he is already expressing policies,” Yasay said.