Controversial Duterte to arrive for 1st ever visit by Filipino president
In 2016 he likened his war against drugs to Hitler’s war against the Jews, though he later apologized for that remark.
The Philippines’ controversial President Rodrigo Duterte is scheduled
to arrive Sunday for a four-day visit, on the heels of yet another
statement that triggered fury in which he said during a speech Thursday
that rape will continue as long as there are beautiful women.
Duterte – known primarily for these types of outrageous statements and
for a brutal war against drug dealers, with allegations that his
government has executed thousands of people in his war on narcotics –
will be the first president of the Philippines to visit the country
since ties were established in 1958.
In 2016 he likened his war against drugs to Hitler’s war against the Jews, though he later apologized for that remark.
Reflecting awareness that Duterte’s visit has sparked controversy in
Israel and abroad, the Foreign Ministry took the unusual step Friday of
issuing a lengthy statement that read like an explanation as to why
Israel will be hosting him.
The statement began by saying Israel “welcomes the visit,” and then was
quick to point out that after the visit here, he will continue on to
Jordan.
According to the statement, Duterte timed his visit to mark several
important events, including the 80-year anniversary of the Philippines
opening its gates and providing sanctuary to Jewish refugees fleeing
the Nazis; the 70-year anniversary of the Philippines’ support for the
1947 UN Partition Plan, the only Southeast Asian state to do so; and
the 60-year anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations
between the two countries.
“We assign great importance to this visit, which symbolizes the strong,
warm ties between our two peoples as well as the enormous potential for
developing and strengthening the relations,” the statement read.
“Cooperation between the two countries is thriving. In diplomacy, it is
expressed in public statements by the leadership in Manila as well as
in issues important to Israel in the international arena,” it
continued.
For example, the Philippines has abstained in a number of Israel-related votes at the UN.
“Other areas of robust cooperation are security and combating terrorism,
tourism, investments, energy, infrastructures, and more,” the
statement read, with all of those issues on the agenda during Duterte’s
visit.
Duterte is arriving with a massive delegation, including a number of
ministers – including his defense minister – and retiring police and
army officials. In 2017 the Philippines emerged for the first time as a
major arms market for Israel, buying radar and anti-tank systems at a
cost of some $21 million.
Anther issues on the agenda is the opening of a direct flight route from
Manila to Tel Aviv, and the possibility that – like a recently
inaugurated Air India flight from New Delhi – such a flight may fly over
Saudi Arabia on its way to and from Israel. Such a route would increase
tourism for both countries, including Philippine Christians wanting to
make a pilgrimage to the Holy Land.
Also among the agreements to be signed, according to the Foreign
Ministry, is an agreement to regulate the employment of an estimated
28,000 Filipino care-workers in Israel. According to the Foreign
Ministry, this “agreement will protect the workers’ rights, ensure equal
and fair treatment of them, and cancel all the fees that until now
they have been forced to pay to intermediate agents.”
Another agreement will be signed to bring Filipinos to work in Israel hotels.
In addition to his defense minister, Duterte will also be accompanied by
his ministers of foreign affairs, trade and industry, agriculture,
internal security, science and technology, labor and employment,
tourism and transportation. Senior senators will also be part of the
delegation, as will some 150 businessmen.
He is scheduled to arrive Sunday evening and shortly afterward hold an
event for Filipino workers in Jerusalem. During his visit he is
scheduled to meet Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Reuven
Rivlin, tour the Old City, visit Yad Vashem and inaugurate a monument
in Rishon Lezion that commemorates the Philippines rescue of Jews during
World War II.
Some 1,300 Jews found refuge in the Philippines during the Holocaust,
fleeing there from Austria and Germany from 1937 to 1941, only to then
find themselves under Japanese occupation. Two of those survivors who
found refuge in the Philippines will be on hand at the Rishon Lezion
event.
Another issue likely to be raised during the visit is the possibility of
the Philippines – a historically strong US ally – moving its embassy to
Jerusalem.
The Philippines was mentioned repeatedly in December as one of a handful
of countries that may follow the US lead and move its embassy to
Jerusalem, a rumor shot down by Foreign Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano
later that month when he said the move had not been discussed.
Nevertheless, reports about a possible move have continued to surface.
The Philippines, which has a large Evangelical community, was one of 35
countries which abstained when the UN General Assembly passed a
resolution in December that condemned the US for the move.
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