It pays to be friendly: Sotto supports PH independent foreign policy  

Senate President Tito Sotto has given his support to President Rodrigo Duterte’s policy of establishing friendly ties with all nations, amid reports of alleged harassment of Chinese Coast Guard in the South China Sea.

“We are no longer US-focused. We are now gearing towards friendly ties with all nations,” Sotto said in a statement on Monday.

Sotto also said that our history shows that having preferences when it comes to foreign relations has been detrimental to the country.

“Kaka-friend natin sa US kaya naging target tayo ng Japan sa Second World War.  Same day na binomba Pearl Harbor binomba tayo ng Hapon sa Baguio at Clark (Since we were friends with the US, we were targeted by Japan in the Second World War. On same day that Pearl Harbor was bombed, they also bombed Baguio and Clark),” he said, referring to the December 8, 1946 attack on the Philippines.

“Almost one million died in that war. Sa bakuran natin sila nag-away,” he stressed.

President Duterte previously stated that he prefers an independent foreign policy, which will prevent foreign governments from meddling on issues involving the Philippines.

“We will observe and I must insist – I repeat, I must insist – on the time honored principles of sovereign equality, non-interference and commitment to the peaceful settlement of disputes to best serve our people and protect the interests of our country,” Duterte said in a speech on September 2016.

READ: Duterte: Gov’t to pursue ‘independent foreign policy’

Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano also said that the Philippines will be a friend to all nations.

“The Philippines shall remain an enemy to none and a friend to all in its pursuit of economic and political benefits for the country, including the long-term security and stability in the region,” Cayetano said on July 2017.

Sotto echoed these sentiments, saying that the country must avoid a war, as much as possible.

“No country wants to go to war that is why we are exhausting all possible means to avoid it from happening,” the senator said.

“I appeal to the media and our countrymen not swallow everything the doomsayers say,” he added. /ee

READ: Sotto favors diplomacy: ‘Why should we pick a fight with China?