By Jelly F. Musico
President Rodrigo Duterte arrives at the Noi Bai International Airport in Vietnam on September 28. (MNS photo)
MANILA (PNA) – Malacañang has yet to receive a formal communication from Brussels, which is reportedly reconsidering the royal visit of Belgian Princess Astrid to the Philippines next year.
”Although we have not really gotten any formal communication regarding those matters, this, in a sense, is just a question, a matter of speculation,” Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella said Tuesday.
Abella said the Palace would respect it if Princess Astrid cancels her scheduled visit to the Philippines next year, reportedly over remarks made by President Rodrigo Duterte, comparing himself to Germany’s Adolf Hitler for wanting to rid the country of three million drug addicts.
”She has her own standards by which she has to act. We respect her values, we respect her position,” Abella said.
President Duterte has apologized “profoundly and deeply” for his remark that drew criticisms from the Jewish community.
According to The Brussels Times, Brussels State Secretary for External Trade Cecile Jodogne would propose to move the royal visit to another country.
Princess Astrid was to lead a Belgian economic team to the Philippines to look for possible investments.
Abella meanwhile said he believes that foreign investors would come to the Philippines “when there is a stable condition and when there is a competitive environment”.
”As far as we can see, just as long as we are able to provide a decent, competitive, stable environment, I believe that they will come,” he said.