Pangasinan (CNN Philippines, November 29) — President Rodrigo Duterte led the send-off of Vietnamese fishermen at the Sual Wharf Wednesday.
These five fishermen were arrested in September in Bolinao, Pangasinan, but through the country’s Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) ties with Vietnam, they were released this afternoon.
In his speech, Duterte said, “We are one. We are Asians. I’m sorry for the incident, I hope it would never again. I hope that these incidents will not destroy the bond of our relationships.”
Social Welfare Officer-in-Charge Undersecretary Emmanuel Leyco said: “It is a humanitarian act on the part of the government that we help the Vietnamese fishermen. The department gave them provisions adequate enough for their journey back home.”
Among the supplies given to he fishermen were given 20 kilos of rice, 20 kilos of fresh meat, five liters of cooking oil, 15 kilos of vegetables, 600 liters of drinking water, two liters of soy sauce, two kilos of salt, and 1,000 liters of water.
Leyco also said the gesture emphasized the importance of regional solidarity among members of ASEAN members.
“Magandang pagkakataon ito para lalong magkaunawaan ang mga bansang Pilipinas at Vietnam. After all, magkakapitbahay tayong bansa,” he said
[Translation:This is a good opportunity for the Philippines and Vietnam to strengthen ties. After all, we are neighbors.]
Before the send-off, Duterte also addressed the military and police in fighting terrorists and communist rebels.
“I do not mind losing properties of government, that’s nothing to me. But sa buhay [But when it’s about a person’s life], if you are there, especially in those areas, you die with your dignity as a soldier,” he said.
He told them them to defend themselves against the enemy.
“Do not surrender the gun until you are dead. At do not give them the pleasure of decapitating you,” he said.
Duterte said talks with communists are over, adding he will soon issue an executive order declaring them as terrorists.
On November 20, Duterte said he wanted to declare the New People’s Army (NPA) as a terrorist group by issuing a proclamation.
READ: Duterte to declare NPA as terrorist group
The President explained he had exhausted efforts to reach out to the rebels, but they allegedly carried on killing law enforcers.
He reiterates he will never negotiate with terrorists.
“There will never be a time that I’ll talk to terrorists,” he said.
