Gonzales: Philippines should join ways to reduce conflict level amid Russia-Ukraine war

Presidential candidate and former Defense secretary Norberto Gonzales on Wednesday said the Philippines should join initiatives that could reduce the level of conflict amid Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Gonzales said it was right for the country to join the calls of the United Nations (UN) in condemning the invasion, adding that it must lower the tension, as many countries will be affected.

“Tama yung pagsu-support natin sa UN, in fact we should join more similar initiatives kasi kailangan ibaba natin yung level ng conflict. Kung pwede nga maitigil but I doubt kung maititigil natin, but lower it down kasi iba yung kahit tactical warhead lang yung gamitin ni [Russian President Vladimir] Putin maraming marami ang mamatay pa rin ‘yon,” he said during Go Negosyo’s Kandidatalks.

(It is right that we support the UN, in fact we should join more similar initiatives because we need to lower the level of conflict. If we can be able to stop it but I doubt that we can stop it, but at least lower it down because even if Putin uses only a tactical warhead, many people will still die.)

The Philippines earlier appealed for an immediate stop to the violence and called on the parties involved to forge a peace accord.

However, President Rodrigo Duterte said the Philippines must remain neutral on the issue.

Duterte said it was best for the country not to take sides, reiterating that the Philippines should not be “dragged” into the crisis situation.

Oil prices

Gonzales also said that the foreign ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) should have a meeting to regulate the increase of fuel price hikes.

“Kung ifo-focus natin together with our allies in the neighborhood, ifo-focus tayo sa mga oil-producing nations like Saudi Arabia and Iran, these are the kinds of supply that could alter the price of oil in the world. Pagka nakumbinsi natin yung mga yan kunware magdoble ng produksyon a certain percentage syempre baba ang oil [price]. Importante yun,” he said.

(If we focus together with our allies in the neighborhood, if we focus on oil-producing nations like Saudi Arabia and Iran, these are the kinds of supply that could alter the price of oil in the world. When we convince those people to double production by a certain percentage, it will lower the oil price. It is important.)

On food security, Gonzales said there are other remedies to consider apart from importing, noting that the agricultural sector must be strengthened.

“Dito sa supply sa pagkain sa atin, there are remedial things that we can do. Other than importing, kasi pag nagkagipitan kahit may pera tayo hindi tayo pagbibilhan, kailangan i-push natin yung remedial measures sa field ng agriculture. Kailangan yung food production maipa-enhance natin at the quickest time possible,” he said.

(In the food supply here in our country, there are remedial things that we can do. Other than importing, because in a case of emergency, even if we have money, we will not be sold, we need to push remedial measures in the field of agriculture. We need to enhance food production at the quickest time possible.) — BM, GMA News