Sual, Pangasinan (CNN Philippines) — President Rodrigo Duterte says his administration will continue to strengthen relations with the country’s neighbors, urging regional leaders to “place importance” on the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) and work together “to protect our interests.”
The President delivered this message here on Wednesday afternoon during the ceremonial sendoff for 17 Vietnamese fishermen.
The fishermen, one of whom was a minor, were arrested last September 8 after the Philippine Navy intercepted their three fishing vessels more than 20 nautical miles off Sta. Catalina town in Ilocos Sur.
“I am very happy to be here to sendoff my fellow human being,” President Duterte addressing the fishermen who were seated among the audience.
Criminal and administrative complaints were filed against the fishermen–but these were eventually dropped after they explained that they drifted to Philippine seas due to choppy waves and bad weather.
Social Welfare Sec. Judy Taguiwalo described the fishermen as “guests” who were “forced to enter our waters to escape a storm.”
“We have laws asserting territorial right but in implementing them, we should always factor in compassion and understanding, especially in dealing with our neighbors,” Taguiwalo said.
The President’s decision to free the fishermen is seen as a diplomatic move to galvanize reinvigorated bilateral relations with Vietnam, forged during his visit to Hanoi in late September.
Aside from Vietnam and Brunei, the President earlier visited Indonesia after attending this year’s ASEAN Summit in Laos.
He is set to travel to Malaysia this month and has expressed interest to also go to Singapore and Thailand before yearend.
The Philippines, with Duterte at the helm, will take over the annual rotating chairmanship of ASEAN beginning January 1 from Laos.
“May APEC (Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation) na. May WTO (World Trade Organization) atsaka meron pang iba,” the President, in his speech, citing the importance for ASEAN to chart its own directions.
He referred the multi-nation organizations as “impositions on our government.”
The Duterte administration initially offered to shoulder the expenses to fly back the fishermen to Hanoi but they refused, insisting that they return home on board their vessels.
The President gave out hygiene kits while the vessels were filled up with food and water supply, as well as fuel, enough to sustain the fishermen on their trip that is expected to last less than a week.
Vietnam’s envoy to the Philippines, Troung Trieu Duong, said he was “deeply moved” and “honored” by the President’s actions.
“All of you have truly been the good reflection of human compassion, and I believe the fishermen shall forever treasure your kindness and hospitality,” said Truong.
There are still about a dozen Vietnamese fishermen detained in the country, facing charges of violating Philippine maritime laws.
It is still unclear what Manila gets in return for the release of the initial batch of fishermen but Vietnam is a major source of imported rice.
Poaching however continues to impact Philippine economy and its maritime resources.
An APEC study in 2008 showed, about 90-percent of foreign vessels that operate in the Philippines in 2003 to 2004 were involved in illegal fishing.
In a piece he wrote for Rappler, Lucio Pitlo III of the University of the Philippines Asian Center said a little over ₱7-B worth of captured marine resources in the Philippines are lost every year due to poaching.
Maritime authorities have arrested poachers from Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, Taiwan and China in the seas off Palawan, Tawi-Tawi, Saranggani and Batanes.
The President’s trip to Pangasinan on Wednesday was his first since the bloody campaign against drugs went on full swing.
He earlier named former Pangasinan governor and now Pangasinan 5th District congressman Amado Espino Junior–and two other local officials–in his drug matrix.
Mister Duterte later on admitted, the information linking the three officials to the illegal drug trade was incorrect. He has since apologized to the officials.
Espino Jr, was a no-show in the event though his son, Governor Amado Espino III sat beside the President during the ceremony.
One of the local officials named in the initial drug list managed to shake hands with the President: Pangasinan 1st District congressman Jesus Celeste said he was cleared by government agencies of any links to the drug trade, after he submitted himself to an investigation.
“Mukhang hindi nya ako nakilala,” Celeste told CNN Philippines when asked about his brief encounter with President Duterte.
The President spoke quite lengthily in his speech about his controversial war on drugs, mostly lashing out at the U-S government.
Celeste said there was no need for the President to apologize to them.
“Hindi na kailangan dahil marami po kami doon e. Masaya na po akong ma-clear po ako, maski hindi na po nya nabanggit sa akin,” Celeste said.
