Drilon to administration: Get rid of bravado attitude, take EU Parliament threat seriously

Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon on Monday advised the Duterte administration to seriously consider the threat of the European Parliament to revoke the Philippines' exports tariff exemption due to alleged "deteriorating" human rights situation in the country.

"I would strongly advise the administration that instead of just setting this aside and saying these are all empty threats, I would strongly suggest we take a closer look because if the European Commission will heed the advice of the European Parliament to end our GSP+ (Generalized Scheme of Preferences Plus), we will have problems. No question about it," Drilon said in an interview on ANC.

Under the GSP+, over 6,000 Philippine-made products exported to EU-member states are enjoying tariff breaks.

Drilon said labor groups have estimated that 200,000 jobs would be affected if these incentives would be lost.

"We should take this seriously rather than have that bravado attitude 'You can go ahead.'  I dread to see the day when they go ahead and carry out their threat," the opposition senator said.

On Friday, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque dared the European lawmakers to "go ahead" with their threat to strike down Philippines' zero-tariff export status.

“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," he added.

Vice President Leni Robredo said the reaction of the Palace was
not proper.

“Tingin ko, maling reaksyon iyon kasi ang dapat na reaksyon, sabihin mo na—ipakita mo na sinusundan natin iyong ating commitments,” she said. —KBK, GMA News