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Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte AP FILE PHOTO DAVAO CITY—Saying he was “not a fan” of the United States, President Duterte on Saturday vowed to steer an independent course for the Philippines, and refrain from confronting territorial rival China and from picking up a fight with any nation over human rights. “I am not a fan of the Americans … Filipinos should be first before everybody else,” Mr. Duterte told reporters upon arrival in his hometown, Davao City, from his first foreign trip that was marred by a diplomatic bust-up with the United States after he called President Barack Obama a “son of a bitch.” READ: Duterte on Obama ‘slur’: I never made statement; it’s media spin “In our relations to the world, the Philippines will pursue an independent foreign policy. I repeat: The Philippines will pursue an independent foreign policy,” Mr. Duterte said. READ: Duterte: Gov’t to pursue ‘independent foreign policy’ Mr. Duterte arrived at Davao International Airport at 12:50 a.m. aboard a chartered Philippine Airlines flight from Jakarta, where he had talks with Indonesian President Joko Widodo on Friday. Reporting on his trip in an arrival speech, Mr. Duterte said advancing the Philippines’ interest was his objective in attending the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) summit and related meetings in Vientiane, Laos, last week. “I engaged the leaders of Asean and its dialogue partners on important regional and international issues that impact on peace, security, stability and prosperity of our region,” he said. Despite an earlier promise not Read More …

JAKARTA—President Duterte took up the case of convicted Filipino drug mule Mary Jane Veloso in his meeting with Indonesian President Joko Widodo in Jakarta on Friday, but the details, he said, were “not for public consumption.” The President was expected to appeal Veloso’s death sentence, which was scheduled for May 2015, but she was saved by a last-minute reprieve after an appeal by then President Benigno Aquino III. Foreign Secretary Perfecto Yasay Jr. said both governments felt no urgency to take action in the Veloso case as she had been taken off the execution schedule indefinitely. “This is not an urgent issue as of now, let’s finish the process,” Yasay said. “Her scheduled execution had been deferred because she would be testifying in the deposition case against her illegal recruiter. After prosecuting the illegal recruiter who (is one of) the main principals here, and if it turns out in the trial in the Philippines that Mary Jane (was) a victim,  then at that point we can ask for clemency soon,” he added. Pressed to comment on whether he exchanged notes on antidrug measures with Widodo, Mr. Duterte said, “No, I said that we will continue to respect each others’ judicial processes. The rule of law is what matters; (it) gives order to the community.” Yasay said he was hopeful that the case against the illegal recruiter of Veloso, who was caught with 2.5 kilograms of cocaine inside the lining of her luggage at the Indonesian airport in 2010, would be Read More …

JAKARTA—Foreign Secretary Perfecto Yasay Jr. on Friday called President Rodrigo Duterte’s debut on the global stage “brilliant” despite sparking a diplomatic storm by calling US President Barack Obama a “son of a bitch,” which dominated the buzz at this week’s Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) summit in Laos. “He was brilliant and superb, and on a scale of 1 to 10… I give him a high score of 8.5,” Yasay told reporters. Yasay said Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Long were among Mr. Duterte’s admirers. READ: Duterte treated like ‘a rockstar’ at Asean Summit, says Andanar “They were impressed with his performance, what he said, his insights and diplomatic decorum, and his ability to understand what was happening around the world,” Yasay said. He said Mr. Duterte was “able to express and articulate the concerns we wanted to raise, particularly our efforts in the fight against illegal drugs and the steps we have taken consistent with the Constitution, rule of law and upholding human rights” in the prosecution of suspects and the rehabilitation of users. TVJ RELATED STORIES Duterte takes up Veloso’s case with Widodo, but mum on details Duterte flies to Veloso’s rescue Latest Barack officially now a ‘parasite’ Young Gilas bows to India in Fiba Asia Challenge Joel Reyes’ bid for bail rejected 2 Pampanga bishops’ plea: Don’t be indifferent to killings Recommended Disclaimer: Comments do not represent the views of INQUIRER.net. We reserve the right to exclude comments which are Read More …

U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, left, glances at Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, right, at the start of 11th East Asia Summit on the last day of the 28th and 29th ASEAN Summits and other related summits at the National Convention Center Thursday, Sept. 8, 2016 in Vientiane, Laos. (AP Photo/Bullit Marquez) UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on Thursday urged Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) member states to ratify the Paris Agreement on Climate Change within the year to bring it closer to force. Speaking at the Asean-UN Summit in Vientiane, Laos, Ban said that of the 10 Asean members, only Laos had ratified the Paris Agreement which relates mainly to efforts to reduce global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and mitigate a disastrous rise in world temperatures in the coming years. The Philippines was represented at the meeting by Foreign Secretary Perfecto Yasay Jr. in place of President Duterte. It was one of the mini summits taking place around the main Asean summit. Aside from the Philippines and Laos, the Asean includes Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, Cambodia, Myanmar and Vietnam. So far, 27 countries—together responsible for about 39 percent of global GHG emissions—have ratified the Paris Agreement. “We need 28 more countries to ratify, accounting for a further 16 percent of greenhouse gas emissions, to bring this agreement into force,” Ban said in his opening remarks. “If nine more Asean countries ratify, we will have just 19 more countries to go. I am counting on your leadership,” he told Read More …

JAKARTA, Indonesia—Convicted drug mule Mary Jane Veloso is “anxiously” awaiting President Duterte’s meeting with Indonesian President Joko Widodo on Friday at the Istana Merdeka in central Jakarta. Philippine Ambassador to Indonesia Ma. Lumen B. Isleta said Veloso is “OK.” “My consul has gotten in touch with her… I can understand she’s [feeling] anxious about the visit of the President,” she said. She said the embassy could not squeeze in a meeting between the President and Veloso during his 24-hour visit to Indonesia because the convict’s prison is an hour’s flight away from here. Mr. Duterte is scheduled to have a bilateral meeting with Widodo and a state dinner later today after delivering a speech to the Filipino community at the Shangri-La Hotel. In an interview with reporters at the Philippine embassy, Isleta said “we’re always hopeful” that Veloso would finally get out of Indonesia’s death row. “There is always hope. And, of course, the President can convey the country’s appreciation and gratitude for the last-minute reprieve which is only temporary and not permanent,” said Isleta, who noted that Indonesia had never granted a full pardon to a death convict. Veloso was found guilty of drug smuggling and was temporarily spared  from the firing squad at the last minute by Widodo in April last year. Mr. Duterte said he would appeal for Veloso’s life “in a most respectful and courteous way” but he would not begrudge Widodo should he reject his personal appeal for mercy. Victim of recruiter Isleta said the Read More …