Philippines to maintain independent course

MANILA, Philippines - Malacañang officials are unfazed by comments that there is a “climate of uncertainty” and maintained that the Philippines would not be subservient to anyone but its national interests.

US Assistant State Secretary Daniel Russel, who is in the country to seek clarification on President Duterte’s statement that he is separating from the US, said yesterday that the Philippine leader’s pronouncements have caused anxiety among other countries and businesses and have created a “climate of uncertainty.”

The US official also expressed concern over the spate of killings linked to the administration’s war on illegal drugs.

Presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella said there is nothing new about Russel’s statement.

“It’s not a new line. It’s something that the US and the western alignment have referred to again and again. However, the President has already made his position clear regarding that, that there’s no state- sanctioned policy regarding these alleged extrajudicial killings,” Abella said in a press briefing yesterday.

“The Philippines will not renege on its treaties that have been made with its established allies. However, like the President has said again and again, he will continue in his independent foreign policy,” he added.

For chief presidential legal counsel Salvador Panelo, the US is to blame for the confusion over Duterte’s statements.

“They are confused because they refuse to understand what the President is saying… I think the President has been giving many statements in regard to this particular announcement he made,” Panelo said. “In other words, the US had it coming. He has been warning about this particular thing but they did not listen.”

Uncertainties have been hounding the relationship between the Philippines and the US since Duterte assumed the presidency.

Duterte has displayed animosity towards the US after American officials called him out for the alleged summary executions of drug suspects.

The tough-talking President has accused the US of insulting him and meddling with the Philippines’ internal problems.

Early this month, Duterte said he is putting an end to the joint military exercises of Filipino and American forces, activities that are in line with a decades-old mutual defense treaty signed by the two countries.

During a business forum in Beijing last Thursday, Duterte announced that he is “separating” from the US in the areas of economy and security. With Perseus Echeminada