Arroyo: China an ally despite melamine
By TJ Burgonio, Michael Lim Ubac
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 02:22:00 10/12/2008
MANILA, Philippines—Despite the melamine contamination scandal, President Macapagal-Arroyo has assured China’s outgoing Ambassador Song Tao that his country remained a key ally of the Philippines.
“China is very important to us in terms of diplomatic, socioeconomic, as well as political relations,” President Arroyo told Tao on Friday, according to a Malacañang statement.
Tao, for his part, thanked Ms Arroyo for the support and friendship the Philippine government had extended to him during his tour of duty. His successor has yet to be named.
Tao had a 15-minute farewell meeting with President Arroyo in the Malacañang Music Room.
Three Chinese milk products sold in local supermarkets had so far been found to be tainted with melamine, a white chemical powder used to make plastic, fertilizer and fire retardant foam. Melamine-tainted milk has poisoned over 53,000 children in China, killing four of them.
Earlier, Palace officials had said the scandal would not sour relations with China, which has replaced the United States as the Philippines’ No. 1 market.
The President expressed regret over the end of Tao’s tour of duty. “So sorry to see you go. This is a very sad day for all of us. I hope you enjoyed your stay here,” she was quoted in the statement as telling Tao.
After a year in the country, Tao is flying back to China to await his next assignment.
The Senate blue ribbon committee, meanwhile, is set to investigate the smuggling of China-made milk and dairy products into the Philippines in order to find those responsible for the entry of the food products which did not undergo testing by the Bureau of Food and Drugs (BFAD).
“We’re not blaming which specific agency right now, but we’re going to investigate and find out who is at fault and hold them accountable,” said Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano, chair of the blue ribbon panel, the Senate’s most powerful committee.
“Definitely, there are anomalies here,” said Cayetano by phone.
Cayetano said he hoped to start the hearings early next month, when Congress resumes sessions.
“Many of these products were not even approved by the BFAD. They should not even be sold in the country. The mere fact they were brought in raises some questions,” he said.
Two weeks ago, the BFAD imposed a total ban on the sale, importation and distribution of all milk products from China, including products with ingredients imported from that country in the wake of the melamine scare.
So far, three China-made milk products tested by the BFAD proved positive for melamine contamination—Greenwood Yili Fresh Milk, Jolly Cow Slender High Calcium Low Fat Milk (1 liter) and Mengniu Drink.
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