Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 18) — President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday said he will no longer accept new grants from the European Union (EU) as it insults the country’s sovereignty.
“I will not accept it. Hindi na baleng maghirap tayo. Sabihin ko sa mga tao, magtiis tayo pobre tayo, pero kung ganun lang naman kung tuturuan ka kung paanong gawin…we cannot be forever be dependent on aid,” Duterte said at the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology in Camp Bagong Diwa.
[Translation: I will not accept it. It’s alright that we remain poor. I will tell people that we can remain poor, but if they just keep telling us what to do…we cannot be forever be dependent of aid.]
The President also revealed he shot down grants from a country belonging to the EU which came with conditions that restrict buying options.
“Gaya niyan, magbigay ka in a form of assistance or grant, the Philippines is given this amount but at the same time, i-specify nila na para ito sa Bureau of Fire kasi magbigay sila ng truck. Pero, gusto nila bilihin mo ‘yung truck sa kanila,” Duterte said
[Translation: Like that, if you give in a form of assistance or grant, the Philippines is given this amount but at the same time, they specified that this is for the Bureau of Fire (Protection) because they are offering a truck. However, they want us to buy the truck from them.]
“If it’s a grant, what’s the — Because when it is a grant and it is received officially by the Republic of the Philippines, it becomes public funds,” he added.
Duterte added there must be a proper bidding in acquiring government equipment.
“And you know, public funds must be spent. If it’s buying, you have to have a bidding,” he said. “Kaya ganun na lang ang tingin ko diyan sa EU (That’s why I see EU that way).”
The President had recently slammed the EU for their supposed remarks against his drug war. It was later clarified that Duterte’s tirade was directed at a delegation which does not represent the EU.
“Kaya ko ‘yan sila minumura kasi they do not know how to respect sovereignty,” Duterte said.
[Translation: I am cursing at them because they do not know how to respect sovereignty.]
The Foreign Affairs Department, who was later informed of this decision, confirmed that the country is rejecting new grants from EU.
“What we are telling other countries-we want friendship with you, we want to build relationship with you, friends to all but enemies to none, but if you are going to use the money then dictate something upon us or criticize unfairly what is happening here,” said Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano.
However, Cayetano clarified they are not cutting ties with the EU, the President just doesn’t want to receive financial help for now- to prevent them from interfering with Philippines policies
“Let’s build friendship in other matters. Let’s continue to do economics straight in tourism…pero huwag na tayo magbigayan ng pera pero magsisihan tayo tapos magsingilan (but let’s not exchange money then just blame and demand payment),” he said.
The Philippines has an EU Generalized Scheme of Preference plus status, granted in December 2014, which allows the country to export 6,274 types of products with no tax to the EU. The products range from electronics, machinery and transport equipment, coconut oil, manufactured goods, and chemicals.
As a condition, the Philippines must promote human rights based on the EU-Philippine Partnership Framework Agreement.
According to the EU External Action, the EU and the Philippines has had a total trade in goods worth €13-billion (₱786-billion) in 2015, with the Philippines importing goods worth €6.2-billion (₱375-billion) from EU.
The country is set to receive €325 million euros (around ₱18.05 billion) in aid from 2014 to 2020 under the EU’s Multiannual Indicative Program for the Philippines. The money will be used for sustainable energy and job creation, legal and judicial reform, as well as feasibility studies and outreach programs.
The EU is also a member of the International Monitoring Team led by Malaysia that oversees the implementation of the peace deal between government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.
Duterte’s latest remarks against the EU came after he promised jail officers at the BJMP that he will provide them the best quality of equipment.
He also promised to continue taking care of the security forces, reiterating his commitment to double the salary of police and jail officers.
The President also said he will provide television units in every cell to give the inmates some form of entertainment.
Jail authorities also raised their concerns with logistical and manpower requirements due to the growing population of detainees.
The BJMP has over 152,000 inmates guarded by a little over 12,000 uniformed personnel
