2016 OUTSTANDING TEACHERS: Senate President Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III with Senators Sherwin Gatchalian, Bam Aquino, Manny Pacquiao, Risa Hontiveros, Leila de Lima, Joel Villanueva, Gregorio Honasan II, Nancy Binay, and Vicente Sotto III commend the recipients of the 2016 Metrobank Foundation’s Search for 10 Outstanding Teachers (SOT) awards. The winners of this year’s SOT are Winona Diola of Muntinlupa City; Rujealyn Cancino of Lingayen, Pangasinan; Josephine Chonie Obseñares of Butuan City, Agusan del Norte; Arnol Rosales of Naujan, Oriental Mindoro; Dr. Roy Basa of Bacolod City, Negros Occidental; Nelson Agoyaoy of Caloocan City; Ma. Regaele Olarte of Muntinlupa City; Dr. Katherine Faith Bustos of Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya, Dr. Ernelea Cao of Quezon City, and Mark Anthony Torres of Iligan City. (MNS photo)
MANILA (Mabuhay) – Sen. Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino IV has filed a resolution seeking an inquiry on the foreign policy direction of the government amid conflicting statements from President Rodrigo Duterte and his Cabinet officials.
Aquino, in Senate Resolution 158 filed on September 19, said the investigation should be conducted with the end view of “protecting our national interest.”
“Having a clear strategic foreign policy is integral to out development as a nation. Our relations with members of the international community have bearing on our ability to protect our territory and environment, develop our economy, and promote the welfare and well-being of our citizens,” Aquino pointed out.
Aquino cited the Philippines’ win against China before the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) in The Hague. The senator pointed out that the favorable ruling over maritime entitlements gave the Philippines the “opportunity and initial momentum to rally its neighbors to unite against China’s increasing territorial assertiveness.”
Duterte, however, sought a “soft landing” and sent former President Fidel Ramos as a special envoy to start talks with China, Aquino noted.
On his first day in office, Duterte warned against using the arbitration court ruling against China to “taunt or flaunt.” “It should be a soft landing from everybody na kung meron man, we don’t really taunt or flaunt it,” the President said then.
Senator Aquino also raised that Duterte, according to reports, did not read his prepared speech in the recent East Asia Summit. He said the speech “would have highlighted the need to respect international law.”
Aquino also cited Duterte’s statements against the United States, including the killings in the Philippines under the US occupation.
Duterte earlier said he wants American forces out of Mindanao, but assured that he wasn’t planning on cutting ties with allies.
Aquino pointed out that Foreign Secretary Perfecto Yasay Jr. issued clarifications with regards to Duterte’s statements, including that on rejecting joint patrols of disputed waters in the South China Sea.
“According to reports, DFA Secretary Yasay has also asserted that some of the President’s recent remarks have been misunderstood and that the Philippines is firmly committed to its alliance with the US,” Aquino said.
“Given the number of conflicting statements coming from the President and senior government officials, there is a need to clarify government’s public that we are pursuing a clear and coherent foreign policy that is most beneficial to the country,” the senator added. (MNS)