Palace decision on EU gets mixed reviews

MANILA, Philippines - The Palace decision to reject new aid from the European Union yesterday drew both praise and scorn from lawmakers and some groups.

Senate allies of the President lauded the move as a step in the right direction and not in any way a severance of ties with the EU.

“When we say we do not accept aid, it only means that we are trying to be self-reliant and we are no longer dependent,” Sen. Richard Gordon said.

“Self reliance means we have a credible defense –air and sea – that can protect our territory. That’s the only way we get respect from the world,” he added.

Gordon said that the move of the government does not mean parting ways with EU and that the designation of former Senate president Edgardo Angara as the President’s special envoy to the EU is “evidence of the high regard the government has for its relationship with Europe.”

“It doesn’t mean throwing Europe away. In fact, they should respect that we’re aiming for self-reliance. As this will earn Philippines self-dignity,” he said.

Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian, chairman of the Senate committee on economic affairs, said that the loss of some P13 billion in development aid from the EU is “a price the Philippines can afford to pay in pursuit of truly independent foreign and economic policies.”

He emphasized that the decision does not mean the Philippines is cutting its economic ties with the EU.

“The Philippines will always be willing to build meaningful trade relations with any State or regional organization that is willing to deal with us in good faith, as peers and equals,” Gatchalian said.

Sen. Panfilo Lacson said that the development represents a significant shift in the country’s foreign policy under the Duterte administration.

He said that this was a declaration of independence from the influence of the West , “who are using grants and trade as the proverbial stick and carrot.”

“It also speaks volumes about the President’s determined position to stand up against the traditional patrons of former colonies like the Philippines,” Lacson said.

“I am not ready to say this early if this is the right direction of our foreign policy. Only time can tell if it will do our country right or not, or if it is all worth giving a chance to be tested. If only we do not have a territorial dispute with China, it is easier to concede that it is all worth the gamble,” he added.

Whimsical decision

But members of the political opposition questioned the wisdom of the administration’s decision to turn down development aid from the EU.

Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV said it was yet another reckless and whimsical decision by the Duterte administration.

“Instead of being arrogant and hateful, as president of a developing country, Duterte ought to be grateful that there are donor countries that are concerned about the plight of our countrymen and are willing to help us,” Trillanes said.

Sen. Paolo Benigno Aquino IV said that the administration should come up with a clear foreign policy direction and that the public should be made aware of this.

“From the way things are going, it seems that only the Palace is aware of the details of the direction that they want to take. They should reveal this to the Filipino people,” Aquino said.

“The administration’s refusal to receive aid seems like a contradictory move to its proposal to raise taxes. If we are refusing aid because we are self-sufficient, why are we then planning to burden our countrymen with more taxes that might raise prices of goods even higher,” he added.

Sen. Francis Pangilinan, president of the Liberal Party, said that while it is the prerogative of the government to refuse help from its foreign friends, it should also act swiftly and ensure that all existing and ongoing EU programs would not be affected when aid is pulled out.

“The administration must then provide these ongoing projects with sufficient government funding,” Pangilinan said.

“Nevertheless, the EU’s expression of concern over the war on drugs, including the incarceration of Senator Leila de Lima, should not cause the Philippines to step back in our relationship with EU,” he added.

Sen. Risa Hontiveros said the contradictory and confusing statements from the Duterte government on the issue are alarming.

“The fact that it is at a loss for a coherent explanation for this unprecedented foreign policy decision should serve as basis for it to pause for deep reflection and reconsideration,” Hontiveros said.

“I call on the Duterte government to get its act together and fully explain the reasons behind this unprecedented foreign policy decision. Was this based on a thorough appraisal of EU aid in the Philippines? What foreign policy objective will this serve? I hope that this is not simply a reaction to the criticisms hurled by the EU regarding the human rights situation in the country, which if true, would be myopic and irresponsible,” she added.

For Akbayan party-list group, the administration’s rejection of EU assistance was another way for Duterte to evade accountability for human rights violations in the conduct of his war on drugs.  – With Edu Punay, Non Alquitran, Pia Lee- Brago