PHL rejection of EU aid a 'preemptive measure' vs. possible sanction –analyst

The Duterte administration's rejection of foreign aid from the European Union (EU) could be a 'preemptive measure' to avoid possible sanctions in the future, a political analyst said Thursday, noting EU's opposition to President Rodrigo Duterte's bloody war against illegal drugs and his push for the death penalty.

"Unang-una dapat makita natin kung pinal na desisyon 'to. Kasi may pagka-preemptive ito para sa akin. Mataas 'yung posibilidad na actually later this year, 'yung EU, ay mag-impose ng sanctions laban sa Pilipinas ukol doon sa kanilang disagreement laban sa ating kampanya sa ipinagbabawal na droga," said De La Salle professor Richard Heydarian in a phone interview on Balitanghali.

"Isang sanction na pwedeng i-impose ng Europe sa atin ay 'yung pagtanggal ng preferential trading agreement sa atin. Kasi ngayon pag nagi-export tayo sa EU, zero po 'yung tariff habang 'yung ibang bansa up to 30%. So baka mawala po 'yung preferential trade agreement na 'yan," he added.

Heydarian, however, took note that these sanctions could be prevented if the Duterte administration will be open to dialogue and impartial investigation regarding human rights issues surrounding the anti-drug campaign.

The European Parliament has been critical of Duterte administration's campaign against illegal drugs, which is being blamed for thousands of extrajudicial killings of drug suspects, and its push for the reinstatement of the death penalty.

Heydarian said the decision made by the Philippine government has a "very comprehensive effect" toward different sectors such as the peace process in Mindanao, disaster-affected areas, capacity buildings and poverty alleviation and employment generation scheme.

"Unang-una 'yung peace process sa Mindanao. Isa ito sa mga bagay na nagi-invest talaga ang EU para tulungan tayo, para makamit talaga natin ang peace diyan sa Mindanao. Kasama din 'yung area na naapektuhan ng disasters. Kunyari 'yung EU ay number two largest donor noong panahon ng Yolanda," he said.

Bold move

For Heydarian, rejecting EU's aid was a "drastic" move, noting that grants given by the foreign body is a huge amount of monetary aid.

"Medyo drastic din ito kasi ang sabi ng Pilipinas dito ay lahat ng ayuda na galing sa EU, hindi na natin tatanggapin at medyo malaking pera ang pinag-uusapan dito, P13 billion. Isa sa pinakamalaking ayuda ito ng EU sa rehiyon no? In fact since 2015, itinataas nila 'yung ayuda nila sa atin," Heydarian said.

"Medyo matapang ang Duterte administration para i-reject 'yan. Kasi siyempre galing palang sa China si Pangulong Duterte at ang China nagpi-place talaga sila ng bilyon-bilyong dolyar sa atin pero ang pagkakaiba diyan, loan po ang bigay ng China sa atin dahil ibabalik naman natin 'yun. May interest nga 'yan. Up to 3% ang interest," he added.

Heydarian, however, hopes that the decision is not yet final.

"We need loans, we need help, we need grant. At 'yung grant mas maganda pa sa loan kasi di mo na kailangan bayaran pa," Heydarian said.

"Second, sinasabi ng government ang issue dito ay soberentiya, non-interference in our internal affairs. Eh ang hinihingi naman ng EU dito ay siguro dialogue man lang. 'Yung ating pagbukas sa international investigation. I don't think it's a total interference in our national affairs," he added. —Anna Felicia Bajo/KBK, GMA News