Brunei asked to support drug war, peace process

MANILA, Philippines - President Duterte will seek the support of Brunei Darussalam for his campaign against illegal drugs as he meets with Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah today.

The President will also ask for Brunei’s continued assistance to achieve peace and progress in Mindanao as well as an intensified trade and investment relationship.

Duterte, in his speech at the Davao International Airport yesterday afternoon before departing for Brunei for a state visit, said getting the backing for his drug war was “an important step toward attaining our common goal of realizing an ASEAN drug-free community.”

The President did not detail the kind of assistance he would need from Brunei on the country’s fight against drugs.

More than 3,000 people have been killed in the course of the drug war, with more than half perpetrated by unidentified assailants.

The Philippine National Police has acknowledged that more than 1,300 drug suspects were killed in police operations, often arguing that the victims opted to shoot it out rather than surrendering.

Mindanao peace

Duterte, who is in Brunei for his traditional tour of Association of Southeast Asian Nations as the country’s new leader, described the ties between Manila and Bandar Seri Begawan as “special” given Brunei’s proximity to Mindanao.

“Brunei has always been a steadfast partner for peace. As the Philippines enters into important phases in our peace talks, Brunei will continue to play an important role,” Duterte said, referring to the peace negotiations between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.

“Along with the growth and development, I shall seek to further strengthen joint resolve at securing just and lasting peace in Mindanao,” he said.

Brunei has been an active member of the International Monitoring Team, a mechanism in the peace process that checks on the actual situation on the ground, particularly with regard to clashes and skirmishes between government forces and the MILF rebels.

Aside from the peace talks, Duterte said developing the halal sector and micro, small and medium enterprises would be key points of discussion.

Duterte said in the area of defense and security cooperation, “I will seek collaborative undertakings in the sharing and expertise on maritime security issues as well as in capacity building.”

“I will seek to foster closer cooperation, especially within the context of ASEAN,” he said.

The President said he would also meet with the Filipino community and noted it would be an opportunity to thank them for their contributions to socio-economic development of the country.

He said he would also apprise them of developments here at home.

Bilateral relations between the Philippines and Brunei were formally established in 1984.

Bolkiah has been a supporter of the Muslim community in the south and among his projects was the construction of the $48-million mosque in Cotabato City, considered to be the grandest in the Philippines.

Both the Philippines and Brunei are component members of the Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines-East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) geo-economic grouping that aims to improve the backwaters of each of the economies.

EAGA also comprises the sub-regional economies of East Indonesia, East Malaysia, Mindanao and Palawan. It is seen as a mechanism that will help improve and further develop both Mindanao and Palawan.