Philippines to reaffirm commitment vs terrorism in ASEAN-Australia Special Summit

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines will reaffirm its commitment as an active partner in the war against terror and share its development agenda during the ASEAN-Australia Special Summit in Sydney this week, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said yesterday.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano will represent President Duterte, who is skipping the event on March 17-18.

The two-day leaders’ dialogue is expected to focus on security, business and other regional concerns.

As special representative of the President, Cayetano will join Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and other ASEAN heads of state in the second leader’s meeting between ASEAN and its oldest dialogue partner.

“What we will be highlighting in Sydney is the role the Philippines plays and could play not just as a participant but as an active contributor to regional counterterrorism efforts,” Cayetano said.

The Philippines, he added, would like to share its Build, Build, Build program that is intended to hasten development across the country, especially in Mindanao.

Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez, presidential chief legal counsel Salvador Panelo and other officials from the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and DFA will join Cayetano.

Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for policy Enrique Manalo said the special summit will highlight ASEAN-Australia cooperation under the group’s three pillars and will focus on regional security, future prosperity, people and further dialogue and cooperation.

“The special summit is expected to strengthen regional security and prosperity through intensified leader-level discussion and a forward program of increased practical engagement on education, economic cooperation, countering terrorism and common security challenges,” Manalo said.

Among the outcomes of the summit is the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding on Countering International Terrorism, which establishes a framework to strengthen practical cooperation and collaboration on counterterrorism through a package of 10 technical assistance and capacity building programs.

The agreement is in support of the Joint Declaration for Cooperation to Combat International Terrorism agreed upon in 2016.

A business summit will also be held on the sidelines of the special summit that will be attended by prominent Filipino business leaders such as Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala, Enrique Razon, Lance Gokongwei, Ramon Ang, Joey Concepcion, Manuel V. Pangilinan and Teresita Sy-Coson.

Ambassador to Canberra Minda Cruz said Cayetano will also have the opportunity to discuss developments in the Philippines with members of the Filipino community who he will be meeting before returning to Manila on Sunday.