The country could live without the financial aid from the 18 countries that backed the United Nations inquiry on the drug war and get assistance from other bilateral partners instead, Malacañang declared yesterday.
Presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo made the statement after finally confirming that government agencies have been directed to reject new loans and grants from Iceland and other nations that voted in favor of the UN resolution.
Panelo has attributed the initial denial about the issuance of the memorandum to President Duterte’s momentary “lapse in memory.”
“It will not dramatically even slightly I think impact our economy. For one, the loans and agreements that are currently in existence are being implemented so it will not affect. No. 2, out of the 18 countries involved, according to Secretary (Carlos) Dominguez, only UK has an offer of 21 million euros as loan with respect to the ‘Build, Build, Build’ project,” he said.
“But you know, there are other bilateral partners and institutions and other countries outside of the 18 offering the same and no better rates than the particular country offering. Madaling sabi, walang epekto sa atin,” he added.
Malacañang had earlier issued a memorandum directing government agencies, government-owned and -controlled corporations, and government financial institutions to suspend the negotiations for and signing of loan and grant agreements with the supporters of the UN inquiry on the drug war “pending the assessment of our relations with these countries.”
The confidential memorandum, signed by Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea last Aug, 27, was made in light of the government’s “strong objection” to the UN resolution seeking a report on the drug war and asking the Philippine government to take action related to the alleged rights violations.
Panelo later released a statement claiming the President “has not issued any memorandum suspending loans and negotiations involving 18 countries that voted in favor of the Iceland resolution.”
But yesterday, Panelo clarified that the memorandum on the loan suspension was indeed issued by Medialdea upon the order of the President. “I maintain that memorandum. I instructed him (Medialdea) to do that at the height of the Iceland resolution,” Panelo said in an earlier television interview, quoting the President. (Genalyn Kabiling)
