Duterte, Saudi prince vow cooperation vs terrorism
President Duterte gives a token to visiting Saudi Interior Minister and Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif at Malacañang yesterday. Duterte expressed his desire to strengthen ties with Saudi Arabia as hecalled for greater coopera tion to combat terrorism, enhance trade relations and promote the rights ofFilipino migrant workers.
MANILA, Philippines — Visiting Saudi Interior Minister and Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif expressed keen interest in the areas of defense and security as well as local government in Mindanao.
President Duterte welcomed the Saudi Prince in ceremonies yesterday at Malacañang to cap his three-day official visit in the country. Duterte expressed his desire to strengthen ties with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as he called for greater cooperation to combat terrorism, enhance trade relations and promote the rights of Filipino migrant workers.
“The President said there is need to expand cooperation across many fields, especially in security, trade and investment, as well as in promoting the rights, safety and wellbeing of Filipinos,” presidential spokesman Harry Roque said in a statement.
The Saudi prince’s visit came as the Duterte administration is pushing for humane working conditions for overseas Filipino workers in the Middle East. Duterte has ordered a ban on the sending of workers to Kuwait following the death of eight Filipinos allegedly maltreated by their employers.
Roque said Prince Abdulaziz had conveyed Saudi Arabia’s readiness to combat violent extremism and terrorism, adding that “the President thanked the Prince for the visit and reaffirmed the commitment of the Philippines to defeat and break the backbone of terrorism and violent extremism.”
He also said that the Saudi prince “conveyed the deep respect of the Saudi king for the President’s strong and decisive action that led to the liberation of Marawi from extremists and terrorists.”
The Marawi siege, the longest urban warfare in the Philippines since World War II, prompted Duterte to declare martial law in Mindanao.
“The Prince reaffirmed the importance of the Philippines to Saudi Arabia,” the spokesman said.
After the courtesy call, Duterte hosted a luncheon for the Prince, where they discussed ways to strengthen bilateral relations, law enforcement, peace and order and security. – Alexis Romero
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