Rody favors Philippines-Japan patrols

YOKOHAMA – Japan is welcome to send ships for joint patrols with the Philippines in the West Philippine Sea, President Duterte said yesterday as he ended a state visit highlighted by the signing of contracts for Manila’s acquisition of more vessels and aircraft for its defense upgrade.

“Yes. Within our territorial waters but not the sea itself but if they want, wala naman tayong problema (we’ll have no problem),” Duterte said when asked by reporters if he is open to joint patrols in the West Philippine Sea with Japanese forces.

“I do not think that they would stop us – I mean China would stop us. Japan just going there and making a cruise,” he added.

 “As a matter of fact, I also told them that they can go near my territorial water and park there if they want,” Duterte said in an interview after witnessing the demonstration exercises of the Japan Coast Guard.

Duterte’s pronouncement came after an earlier declaration that he would no longer allow joint Philippine-US patrols in the South China. He also declared his wish to no longer see US forces in the Philippines in two years.

For lack of time, he was unable to explain if he was referring to joint patrols by either coast guard vessels or naval ships.

During his meeting with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Duterte said the issue of possible joint exercises with Japan was tackled but only in general terms.

After their expanded bilateral meeting at the Prime Minister’s Office, Duterte and Abe witnessed the signing of documents for the acquisition of patrol vessels and other equipment for the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) as well as TC-90 training aircraft.

A Memorandum of Implementation and Letter of Arrangement for the transfer of Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF)’s training aircraft TC-90s was also signed. 

Defense Undersecretary Raymundo Elefante said the Navy is sending two of its pilots for free flight training to Japan in the handling of TC-90.

“Two first planes will be delivered in the first quarter of next year with the remaining three others coming next,” Elefante said.

Before issuing their joint statements, the two leaders also witnessed the signing of the Exchange of Notes on Japanese Official Development Assistance (ODA) Loan for the delivery of two large patrol vessels to the Philippines.

Duterte said he expected Japan to continue playing an important role in maritime security in the region, including in the South China Sea, claimed almost entirely by Beijing.

Japan also intends to provide the Philippines with high-speed boats and other equipment for counterterrorism.

 Japan has also agreed to support infrastructure and agricultural promotion projects in the Philippines to help in the latter’s economic development.

The economic agreement signed is called HARVEST (Harnessing Agribusiness Opportunity through Robust Environment Supportive of Entrepreneurship Transformation) loan, a credit facility that seeks to promote agriculture development particularly in Mindanao. 

In Tokyo earlier, Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez said the Philippines can expect some $1.95 billion in fresh Japanese investments in addition to $200.5-million government loans.

“We are happy because of the warm welcome for our President and his delegation. We had a successful run of the Philippine business forum,” Lopez said in an interview.

The Department of Tourism (DOT) also clinched an important business deal that would further open Central Visayas to the Japanese market.

Tourism Secretary Wanda Teo said that after a meeting, Vanilla Air agreed to mount direct flights between Narita and Cebu, the first Japanese air carrier to fly directly from Tokyo outside Manila.

“We are elated over Vanilla Air’s report that seats on the Narita-Cebu flight are all sold out, long before its launch on December 25, 2016,” she said in a statement.

“Furthermore, this new route would fulfill President Rodrigo Duterte’s vision to bring economic growth and development to Visayas by establishing Cebu as a major international gateway,” she told Vanilla Air president Katsuya Goto in a meeting on the sidelines of Duterte’s last day of his working visit to Tokyo. – Christina Mendez, Pia Lee-Brago, Jaime Laude