Duterte virtually receives ambassadors’ credentials

President Rodrigo Duterte welcomed at Malacañang the new ambassadors of the Holy See (Vatican) and Japan, and affirmed the Philippines’ ties with them.

The chief executive virtually received the credentials of the envoys from the two nations via teleconferencing amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Duterte accepted the credentials of Reverend Charles John Brown, Apostolic Nuncio-Designate of the Holy See, saying he looks forward to working closely with the Vatican to further enhance their shared advocacies of migrants’ protection and climate action for the Philippines.

He said these are issues are “a matter of uplifting human dignity and securing the lives of the most disadvantaged.”

“We also welcome Pope Francis’ declaration of a global climate emergency and the need for a collective response anchored on the principles of equity and social justice,” Duterte added.

The president also welcomed Japan's Ambassador to the Philippines Koshikawa Kazuhiko, who vowed to exert effort to increase bilateral trade and investment, promote strategic partnership in infrastructure, agriculture, health, peace and security between the two countries.

Duterte then thanked Japan for its assistance to the Philippines’ COVID-19 response and for supporting the Build, Build, Build program. — DVM, GMA News