PBBM calls for self-reliant Asia Presses for region to chart own future without external interference n By B VINCE LOPEZ
P
RESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Saturday said the Asian region must be able to decide for itself and chart its future without external interference or pressure.
Mr. Marcos made the statement in an interview with reporters on the sidelines of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit in Bangkok that concluded yesterday.
“What we should really pursue is to make sure that we in the region are the ones who will decide the future of the region. We should not let ourselves be CONTINUED ON 3A
PH position on pressing issues now clear with APEC leaders—President PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said Asia Pacific leaders now know the position of the Philippines on several issues, including on food security and climate change, with his attendance to the Asia Pacific Economic
Cooperation Summit in Bangkok. “One of the most important things, the reason I thought I must attend, I have discussed issues with all the leaders of the Asia-Pacific,” Mr. Marcos said in his arrival speech at the Villamor Airbase in Pasay City. CONTINUED ON 3A
Vol. 36
No. 277
2 SECTIONS
November 20, 2022 8 PAGES
20 .00
IN MET R MANILAO
TEAM PHILIPPINES. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. (center) poses with members of the Philippine delegation to the APEC Summit in Bangkok, Thailand that includes (from left) Foreign Affairs Sec. Enrique Manalo, Social Welfare and Development Sec.Erwin Tulfo, Information and Communications Technology Sec. Ivan Uy, Senior Deputy Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Presidential Adviser on Creative Communication Paul Soriano, Speaker Martin Romualdez, Migrant Workers Sec. Susan Ople, Trade and Industry Sec. Alfredo Pascual and Office of the Press Secretary-OIC Undersecretary Cheloy Garafil.Inset photo shows Mr. Marcos delivering his arrival statement at the Villamor Airbase in Pasay City late Saturday evening. Ver Noveno, RTVM screengrab
Most APEC leaders condemn Russia’s invasion of Ukraine ASIA-PACIFIC leaders added their voices on Saturday to international pressure on Russia over its invasion of Ukraine, issuing a summit statement saying “most” of them condemned the war. The 21 members of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum issued a joint declaration after a day and a half of talks in Bangkok criticizing the conflict and the global economic turmoil it has unleashed. The summit communique was agreed by all APEC members, but includes a number of diplomatic fudges. con“Most members strongly con demned the war in Ukraine and
stressed it is causing immense human suffering and exacerbating existing fragilities in the global economy,” it said. “There were other views and different assessments of the situation and sanctions.” President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., for his part, said Russia’s invasion of Ukraine was “unacceptable.” “The war is unacceptable and we asked all parties involved… Urging that peace be brought back to Ukraine and the confrontation be brought to diplomatic space,” Mr. Marcos said. CONTINUED ON 3A
President sees no cause for tension with China in Harris’ visit to Palawan PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said the visit of US Vice President Kamala Harris to Palawan, the province nearest to the West Philippine Sea, on Tuesday should not stoke tension between the Philippines and China. “No. I don’t see why they should. She is in the Philippines and she is visiting another part of the Philippines,” Mr. Marcos said in an interview with reporters on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Coopera-
tion Summit in Bangkok on Saturday. “Of course, it is the closest area to the South China Sea but it’s very clearly on Philippine territory. I don’t think it will cause problems,” he added. Harris told Asian leaders attending the APEC Summit that the United States is committed to the region for the long haul, rejecting doubts about its engagement as China expands its clout.
Speaker hails PBBM accepts invitation to visit Marcos’ savvy 5 more countries ‘at some point’ int’l promotion nB By VINCE LOPEZ
n By MARICEL V. CRUZ AND VINCE LOPEZ
TURNOVER. Thailand’s Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha hands a ceremonial woven cha-lom to US Vice President Kamala Harris at the handover ceremony during the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit in Bangkok on November 19, 2022. AFP
She called the United States a “proud Pacific power” and said that the longstanding US network of security alliances has allowed Asia to prosper. “The United States is here to stay,” Harris told business leaders on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, also attended by Chinese President Xi Jinping. CONTINUED ON 3A
SPEAKER Martin Romualdez on Saturday said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. shone as a savvy international relations leader promoting the Philippines during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation 2022 (APEC) Summit in Bangkok. He said the President’s efforts to promote the Philippines as an investment hub and advance its regional interests during the APEC Summit are a resounding success, based on what transpired during the event. Mr. Marcos, he said, was not only able to effectively articulate the Philippine position on pressing global issues but he also established warm relations with fellow heads of state, particularly during the bilateral meetings held on the sidelines of the APEC meeting. “The points the President has raised during the various APEC sessions resonated
PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said he received and accepted invitations to visit at least five countries "at some point." “What countries have invited me? All. What countries will I accept? All,” the President told reporters in an interview on the sidelines of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit in Bangkok. He then mentioned France, Saudi Arabia, New Zealand, Australia and Vietnam. “All of them, even in the Asean
(Association of Southeast Asian Nations). Vietnam because we have so many connections already at least on the private sector side,” he said. "[State and official visits] are always useful," added the President. In his last day in Bangkok yesterday, the President held several bilatetal meetings where trade, security, energy and OFW concerns were discussed. In his meeting with New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, the latter expressed commitment to improving CONTINUED ON 3A
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Diesel price cut as much as P2.30, for gas P0.90 n By ALENA MAE FLORES OIL prices will go down by as much as P2.30 per liter effective Tuesday due to the softening of global petroleum prices. "Diesel should go down by P2.10 to
P2.30 per liter. Gasoline should go down by P0.80 to P0.90 per liter," Unioil Petroleum Philippines said. This will be the fifth consecutive week of rollback for diesel. "Based on the five-day trading, there
will be a rollback for gasoline, diesel, and kerosene. Reasons for the rollback are the COVID surge in China, the interest rates hike and the OPEC cuts in its forecast for 2022 global oil demand growth,” CONTINUED ON 3A
DAZZLING LIGHTS. A giant Christmas tree comes to life as the local government of Manila lights up its holiday decors at the Kartilya ng Katipunan shrine. Danny Pata