MANILA – UniTeam senatorial bet Harry Roque sees President Rodrigo Roa Duterte as a potential mediator who can help the Russia-Ukraine conflict given the neutral position of the Philippines and constitutionally-mandated foreign policy of peace with all nations.
According to Roque, an international law expert, the Philippines has a stake in the conflict’s peaceful resolution because of the country’s dependence on imported oil and gas and strong bilateral partnership with Russia.
Roque attested to the personal relations between Duterte and Russian President Vladimir Putin, citing the friendly Philippine-Russia ties since the start of the Duterte administration.
Duterte explicitly recognized his friendship with Putin and admitted to being affected by Russia’s current position. However, the president maintained the country’s neutrality on the matter.
Given his prominence among nations directly and indirectly involved in the Eastern European conflict, the former presidential spokesman sees Duterte as a possible mediator.
Roque stated that Duterte is a friend of Russia and maintains good relations with the US administration because the Visiting Forces Agreement and Mutual Defense Treaty between the US and the Philippines are still in effect.
“We have diplomatic relations with Ukraine despite the absence of a resident ambassador there,” Roque said in a news release on Monday.
“I believe that these countries, including US allies, will listen to what President Duterte has to say regarding the peaceful settlement of the Russia-Ukraine dispute,” he added.
Due to the war’s inflationary impact on the global economy, Roque believes diplomatic interventions and conversations among parties involved should continue.
Based on the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development report, soaring food, fuel, and fertilizer prices have shocked the global economy. More hunger and hardship will befall the poorest households in developing countries as a result of the impact.
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said over 300 Filipinos have been repatriated from Ukraine.
The Philippines and Russia will mark the 45th anniversary of their diplomatic ties in 2021, with increased exchange of high-level visits since 2016. Russia is also the country’s 19th biggest trading partner.
Both countries signed more than 30 agreements in defense, security, trade, nuclear energy, higher education, agriculture, culture, and tourism, according to DFA.
The Philippines and Ukraine established formal diplomatic relations in 1992, and the bilateral ties has been marked by frequent visits and exchanges of multilateral initiatives since then.
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