Vice President Leni Robredo believes that the state should prove its promises to the European Parliament following the call for a review of tarrif incentives due to human rights issues in the Philippines.
If you recall, the Palace even challenged European Union officials to pursue its threat of abolition of the Generalized Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP +) status.
“Tingin ko, maling reaksyon iyon, kasi ang dapat na reaksyon, sabihin mo na—ipakita mo na sinusundan natin iyong ating commitments,” sa kanyang weekly radio program.
“Kasi para sa akin, karapatan iyon ng EU kasi privilege iyon, eh. Wala silang obligasyon na ibigay sa atin iyon. Pero binigyan tayo, bilang privilege, dahil mayroon tayong commitment na mga susundin.”
According to Robredo, it is better for the administration to prove that it has not violated its commitment to the EU because GSP + status is a privilege. In fact, he said, the steps taken by the European Parliament went through the process and it probably gave warnings before the resolution was approved.
“At iyong commitment na susundin natin, iyong pagsisiguro na iyong human rights, iyong freedom of the press, iyong hindi pag-persecute ng mga political opponents, kabahagi iyon noong mga pinirmahan natin.”
“So papaano natin sasalungatin? I-prove natin na hindi iyon—na committed pa rin tayo. Pero hindi iyong sasabihin mo na, ‘eh ‘di tanggalan!’ Kasi kapag sinabi mong ‘eh ‘di tanggalan!’, sa panahon na ang daming nawalan ng trabaho sa atin, dadagdagan mo pa, about 200,000 jobs iyon.”
About 626 EU members voted in favor of the resolution; seven were against, and 52 abstained.
Duterte has attacked the EU several times due to union criticisms of the administration’s campaign against illegal drugs.