THE European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines on Friday played down President Rodrigo Duterte’s expletive-laden attack on the European Parliament after it condemned his brutal crackdown on crime.
“It makes more sense to focus on the 10-point socioeconomic agenda of the new administration and get things done. We have been discussing this with Secretary [Carlos] Dominguez,” said ECCP senior advocacy adviser Henry Schumacher.
He added it would be best if the world took the matter in a stride and moved on.
The President on Monday vented his ire on the European Parliament for criticizing the Philippine government’s approach to ending criminality, and urging Manila to put an end to the extrajudicial killings in its war on illegal drugs.
But Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez said the government will continue with ongoing negotiations to reach a free trade agreement with the European Union, regardless of Mr. Duterte’s rhetoric.
“When we talked to our counterparts, we do not touch on those issues, even with the US. We are moving forward towards strengthening commercial ties,” he said.
The government is stepping up consultation with Philippine stakeholders in preparation for the next round of talks with EU representatives in November.
The consultation aims to solicit reactions and suggestions on ongoing free trade negotiations with the EU, as well as to brief them on the Philippine-European Free Trade Association and the EU Generalized System of Preferences Plus
Senate Minority Leader Ralph Recto said Friday hard-nosed investors are attracted by incentives, and are not easily repelled by invectives.
“The leader of the land where they’ll be sinking their money in can drop ‘F’ bombs for all they care. In search for the almighty profit, business will go where it can be made, even to places where real bombs explode on a daily basis,” said Recto.
While not mentioning names, Recto was obviously referring to President Duterte, who has been criticized for hurling invectives at international leaders for interfering with local politics.
Senator Leila de Lima, a staunch critic of Duterte, said the President has single-handedly put the country in a bad light before the international community.
But Recto said the President’s colorful language is nota risk to be managed. He said trading does not stop because the President has again thrown a tantrum.
“They go to where money can be made, and the Philippines is an irresistible large market of over 100 million consumers,” Recto said.
He added that investors are not complaining about the President’s foul mouth, but are more bothered by the bad traffic, inadequate infrastructure and slow Internet speeds.
“But this is not to say that we should condone presidential outbursts. I think those close to him should start speaking truth to power and remind him that good statecraft requires the discipline of carefully choosing the right words for the right occasion,” Recto added. With Macon Ramos-Araneta