Palace on EU Parliament's push for economic sanctions vs. Philippines: Go ahead

Malacañang on Friday dared European lawmakers to make good on their threat to revoke the tariff-free status for some Philippine exports in protest to the allegedly deteriorating human rights situation in the country.

At a news conference in Baguio City, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said the country could not do anything should the European Commission heed the call of the European Parliament to slap economic sanctions on the Philippines.

“Kung gusto nila dagdagan ang pahirap ng sambayanang Pilipino sa panahon ng pandemya, so be it. We will accept that as history repeating itself,” Roque said.

“Gawin nila ang gusto nilang gawin. Sa mga panahong ito, if they want to implement it, go ahead. They will be the biggest contributor to the violation of right to life of the Filipinos.”

Roque apologized for his use of “undiplomatic” language but added, “What else can I say?”

“At a time of pandemic they are threatening us. Susmaryosep! What else do we lose?” he said. “Hayaan po nating panoorin nila na lalong maghirap ang sambayanang Pilipino.”

The parliament's resolution came at a time when the Philippines is grappling with the fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic that plunged the economy into a deep recession in the second quarter of 2020, contracting by 16.5% — the worst on record in nearly 30 years.

The European Union (EU) grants special incentives to developing countries that ratify 27 core international conventions on human and labor rights, environmental protection and good governance as well as from their effective implementation.

In 2019, at least €2 billion or about P113 billion worth of Philippine goods entered the EU under the zero-tariff Generalized Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP+) mechanism.

The EU is the Philippines’ fourth largest trading partner, accounting for almost 9% of the country’s total trade. Trade in goods between the two partners equaled €14.9 billion in 2019.

In calling for sanctions, the EU Parliament cited the thousands of killings in the campaign against illegal drugs, the cyberlibel conviction of Rappler CEO Maria Ressa, and the non-renewal of ABS-CBN’s broadcast franchise.

The parliament also called for the release of opposition Senator Leila De Lima, who is detained on drug charges, and a transparent investigation on the killings of activists.

Roque, in response, maintained that Ressa’s conviction was a result of “bad journalism” and “bad lawyering.” He also said it was a private individual, businessman Wilfredo Keng, who took the legal action against Ressa, not the government.

As for ABS-CBN, the Palace official reiterated that only Congress has the mandate to grant a broadcast franchise.

He also said the Philippines has always been transparent about the drug war.

“Everything is a matter of public knowledge. Wala kaming tinatago,” Roque said.

“Europe, go ahead! At a time of pandemic, the whole world will pay tribute to you. Ang ating demokrasya ay nakikita ng lahat pero hindi tayo makukuha ng pananakot sa panahon ng pandemya dahil we have hit rock bottom.”

Roque said the EU politicians may have been misinformed by the enemies of the government about the country’s human rights situation. He scored Communist Party of the Philippines founding chairman Jose Maria Sison, who is living in exile in The Netherlands.

“Yung nangyayari sa European Parliament is a classic case of misinformation,” Roque said.

“Unfortunately, ‘yung mga kalaban ng Pilipinas kasama na po ang CPP-NPA na kina-classify na isang terrorist group eh malakas po sila sa Europe. Sa katunayan nandoon nga po si Joma Sison, ‘yung number one terrorist ay naka-base po sa Europe,” he added.

Roque then urged Filipino legislators to inform their foreign counterparts about the “truth” regarding the human rights situation in the Philippines. —KBK, GMA News