Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 1) — President Rodrigo Duterte will convene troops, police personnel, businessmen, and select Cabinet members nearly a week after Russia started invading Ukraine.
The “special meeting” will be held on Tuesday based on his taped announcement on Monday night.
“Gusto ko makinig kayo gaano ka-importante na malaman natin ang lahat, itong nangyayari sa Europe. The invitation is for all so that we can have an exchange of ideas with the military and police, and tayo mga negosyante, so we can come up with a sensible front of how to handle this thing,” he said.
[Translation: I want you to listen to how important it is that we are aware of what’s happening in Europe.]
Duterte has also appointed his spokesperson Karlo Nograles as the sole official authorized to discuss the crisis.
RELATED: DFA: PH joins UN in condemning invasion of Ukraine
This is the first time Duterte spoke about the escalating crisis that started on Feb. 24 when Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered military operations in Ukraine.
“Our plea in the plenary would really be to join the call for restraint and to deescalate the violence there,” Duterte said.
The Philippines on Monday voted in favor of a United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) resolution condemning Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and called for the “cessation of hostilities” and protection of civilians, according to the Department of Foreign Affairs.
Nograles said they will assess if the meeting will be aired on television since it’s a sensitive topic. Malacañang is also concerned about its national security implications.
“In any case, at the end of the meeting, mag-iissue naman tayo ng statement to apprise the people. Ang important dito, ang instruction talaga ng pangulo is to make sure that the Filipino people are fully and well aware of the situation, what is going on in Europe — primarily sa situation sa Ukraine, ano po implikasyon nito sa atin bansa, ating mga kababayan, ekonomiya,” he said in a media briefing.
[Translation: At the end of the meeting, we will issue a statement to apprise the people. What’s important is the president’s instruction to make sure all Filipinos are aware of the situation, what’s happening in Europe particularly Ukraine, and its implication to the country, Filipinos, and the economy.]
