The Philippines and South Korea signed four agreements, including a $172.64-million loan for the new Cebu international port, during President Rodrigo Duterte’s visit to Seoul, Malacañang on Monday said.
Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Ernesto Abella said the signing of the accords on agriculture, trade, transportation and science and technology, were witnessed by Duterte and South Korean President Moon Jae-in.
“With the MOU on agricultural cooperation signed today, various activities are now being lined up, including technology transfer on mechanization and irrigation,” said Agriculture Secretary Manny Piñol.
In a speech before Filipinos at the Grand Hilton Hotel in Seoul, Duterte said the Philippines is considering buying helicopters from South Korea to boost the capability of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
Duterte is on a three-day visit to Seoul to further strengthen Philippine-South Korean bilateral ties, especially on trade, investments and defense and security.
The Philippines was supposed to purchase 23 helicopters from Canada but Duterte ordered the cancellation of the $234-million deal in February after the Canadian government set conditions that the choppers should not be used for combat operations.
“You know, originally we had them. We ordered Bell [helicopters] from Canada. They said they will deliver Bell helicopters but you cannot use it against you own citizens,” the President said.
The Canadian government said the choppers should be used only for “air ambulance” but Duterte said the Philippines has to protect its citizens from enemies of the state.
“My citizens are joining the New People’s Army, the communists, and they are fighting [against the] government and killing my soldiers and my policemen and civilians. It’s a dirty war and the people are dying,” he said.
Duterte said the country is also facing the problem of terrorism, which he predicted would remain in the next 10 to 15 years.
The President thanked the South Korean government for treating well the more than 66,000 Filipinos living and working in Korea.
“I would like to thank [the South Korean] government for hosting so many Filipinos here and keeping them safe here,” Duterte said.
Accompanied by his Cabinet members, Duterte was welcomed by nearly 2,000 flag-carrying and cheering Filipinos who chanted his name after the President was introduced by Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano.
Philippine Ambassador to Republic of Korea Raul Hernandez said most of the Filipinos are based in the Seoul Metropolitan Area and the surrounding towns in the Gyeonggi province.
He also noted that Filipinos are given equal coverage and protection as locals and enjoy the same wages, working hours, privileges, as well as insurance, benefits, and other support programs.
Duterte used part of his speech to apologize for his attacks on Kuwait.
“I’d like to even thank the government of Kuwait. And for the first time, I would say that I was harsh in my language. Maybe because that was a result of emotional outburst. But I’d like to apologize now. I’m sorry for the language that I was using,” Duterte said.
He said he was satisfied with the way Kuwait responded to the problems besetting Filipino workers in the Gulf state.
Duterte said the relations between Kuwait and the Philippines were returning to normal following the granting of the conditions protecting the welfare of Filipinos working there. These include a guaranteed seven-hour sleep period and one dayoff a week, and the non-confiscation of cellphones and passports.
