MOSCOW, Russia – President Duterte reminded the world on Thursday that the Philippines needs equality, fairness, and mutual respect as a sovereign nation and not special treatment or intervention from so-called friends who do not want to be bound by rules they established themselves.
Duterte, speaking at the Valdai Discussion Club forum in Sochi, Russia about world order as seen by countries found in the Eastern Hemisphere, said that the issue at hand was really not about global order but how actions of certain actors violate the very principles that underpin such order.
“The Philippines does not ask for special treatment nor favors from its partners. It does not seek exemption from the norms and principles that have kept the peace in our world for decades,” he said.
Duterte expressed hope that other countries would allow Filipinos to govern themselves in the manner they prefer.
“What we seek is fairness, equality, and mutual respect. We want a strengthened rules-based order where countries, big or small, are treated the same. We want unimpeded freedom – guaranteed by our Constitution – to exercise our right to govern ourselves as a people and as we saw it fit. And we want friends and partners to respect our independence to make sovereign decisions just as we respect theirs,” Duterte said.
“The principles of respect for State sovereignty, non-intervention, and peaceful resolution of disputes must be upheld at all times, otherwise the order unravels,” he added.
The President said Western countries and other global organizations have hurled unfair criticisms against his government about perceived excesses in his infamous war against drugs. “They see what they want to see to justify their preconceived notions, and not trying to understand that what truly is happening is there in my country. Is this how friends treat each other?” he asked.
Duterte said that some countries have even backtracked from defense contracts over “baseless apprehensions” that firearms or helicopters would be used against his own citizens and violate human rights.
“We only seek to protect our republic (from) those who wish to tear it apart. We only seek to curb criminality that corrodes the very structure of government. We only seek to build a credible defense against those who might be tempted to violate our territorial integrity,” he explained. “Is this not something that all nations are entitled to? Is this not what democratically elected governments are mandated to do?” he asked.
According to Duterte, the acts of such countries weaken the Philippines’ ability to protect law-abiding citizens from the outlaws.
“They limit our capacity to stop the vicious cycle of internal conflict and underdevelopment. And they clip our wings making it more difficult for us to effect meaningful change for our people,” he said. “We are tired of the misguided and self-serving crusades of the few. It is time that they are challenged,” he added. (Argyll Geducos)