DFA clarifies President Duterte’s absence in the ASEAN-UN Summit
by UNTV NEWS | Posted on Wednesday, November 15th, 2017
FILE PHOTO: President Rodrigo Roa Duterte shares a light moment with Malaysia Prime Minister Rajib Nazak Brunei Darussalam Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah, Indonesia President Joko Widodo, and Cambodia Prime Minister Hun Sen prior to the start of the 31st Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit Plenary at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City on November 13, 2017. KING RODRIGUEZ/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines – President Rodrigo Duterte was not able to preside the ASEAN-United Nations Summit because of bilateral meetings.
The summit was scheduled at 8:15 Monday night but because schedule of events was hours late, the ASEAN-UN Summit started past 11 in the evening coinciding with the bilateral meetings of the chief executive.
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) acting spokesperson Robespierre Bolivar said President Duterte had a series of bilateral meetings with other chief executives of Japan, Republic of Korea, India and Russia.
Bolivar said it was decided that Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano would represent the President in the ASEAN-UN Summit.
This was also the explanation of Presidential Spokesperson Secretary Harry Roque.
Meanwhile, a US-Philippines joint statement released by the Department of Foreign Affairs after the bilateral meeting of President Duterte and US President Donald Trump mentioned that both leaders condemn the unlawful nuclear weapons and missile development of North Korea.
Both sides also underscored that human rights and the dignity of human life are essential and to continue mainstreaming the human rights agenda in their national programs.
Meanwhile, President Duterte and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe witnessed the exchange of notes between the Philippine and Japanese agencies on the Metro Manila Subway Project, Arterial Road Bypass Project Phase 3 and other agreements on economic and social development program
President Duterte also met with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The two leaders want to enhance the bilateral cooperation on trade, business, and culture.
President Duterte also invited Prime Minister Modi to encourage Indian investors to invest in cheap but effective medicines in the Philippines.
Meanwhile, President Duterte thanked South Korea President Moon Jae-in because of South Korea’s support to Philippines products such as personal care products, seafoods, clothing, chemical and electronic products
He also convinced South Korea to invest in the Philippines in the sector of manufacturing, automotive, food production, processing, agribusiness, electronics and energy. – Rosalie Coz | UNTV News & Rescue
by UNTV News and Rescue | Posted on Wednesday, April 25th, 2018
Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong
SINGAPORE – Regional leaders will gather beginning tomorrow until April 28 for the 32nd Association of Southeast Asian Nation (ASEAN) Summit chaired this year by Singapore .
The nine other heads of member states, including Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, are expected to arrive today for the three-day Summit.
As this year’s chairman, Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong is keen on promoting the network of “smart cities” across ASEAN and also to boost cyber security in the region on which all members are expected to agree.
Tomorrow, April 26, representatives of the 10 member states will gather for the 16th ASEAN Economic Community Council Meeting to be led by Singapore Minister for Trade and Industry Lim Hng Kiang.
Meanwhile, Philippine Ambassador to Singapore Joseph Del Mar Yap is proud of the strong relationship between the Philippines and Singapore, the latter being the former’s biggest trading partner among other regional members.
“Singapore is actually the biggest source of investment for the Philippines in terms of the ASEAN region so we receive the most amount of investment from them and most of these investments are in fact done through joint ventures,” Ambassador Del Mar said.
Del Mar added that the joint venture between the Philippines and Singaporean companies is “a result of working closely together” as both sides are learning from each other in terms of trade and business.
In line with the Summit, Singapore’s Ministry of Home Affairs has declared the Summit venues “The Istana” and the Shangri-La Hotel as “special zones” where enhanced security measures are being imposed, as stated under Public Order Act.
The Istana estate is the official residence of the President of Singapore and also the working office of the Prime Minister. – Maila Guevarra/Marje Pelayo | UNTV News & Rescue
MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang has refused to pay attention to the latest report of US State Department that expresses alarm over President Rodrigo Duterte’s “war on drugs”.
Based on the report, the cases of extrajudicial killings are the “chief human rights concern” in the Philippines which shows “a sharp rise with the onset of the anti-drug campaign in 2016”.
But Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said the report directly contradicts US President Donald Trump’s statements which support the anti-drug war.
“Given what we heard from President Trump, let’s just say it exists but we prefer to hold on to the words of President Trump. He is, after all, the president,” Roque said. — UNTV News & Rescue
MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte has directed Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III to submit a report on companies engaged in labor-only contracting.
These are companies that implement repeated short-term employment contracts better known as “cabo” and 5-5-5 schemes.
The president gave the labor department 30 days to submit the report to the Office of the President.
The National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC) was also ordered to coordinate with the labor secretary in relation to the order.
According to Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque, this is still part of the president’s promise.
“To crack down on them because the promise was to end 555 — end. Ang promise ng Pangulo, habang ganiyan ang depinisyon ng contractualization na hindi lahat ay bawal, kung hindi iyong mga cabo lamang, sisiguraduhin ni Presidente wala talagang 555 at wala talagang cabo,” said the presidential spokesperson.
(To crack down on them because the promise was to end 555 — end. The president promised, while the definition of contractualization says not everything is prohibited but only “cabo”, the president will ensure that there will be no more 555 and cabo schemes.)
On Thursday, Malacañang said the president will no longer sign an executive order banning contractualization of workers.
Roque said it is the duty of the Congress to enact laws that will ban all types of contract labor in the country.
Duterte, however, will possibly certify the proposed bill as urgent to speed up its progress in Congress. — Rosalie Coz | UNTV News & Rescue
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