The ascension of Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos jnr to the presidency of the Philippines has been a game-changer in attracting European investment and pledges to boost security ties, European officials have revealed.
In her first visit to the Philippines, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen pledged to restart negotiations on a trade deal amid concerns about China’s aggressive behaviour in the South China Sea.
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos jnr walks with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen at the Malacanang presidential palace in Manila, Philippines.“We could not choose our neighbours, but we can choose who to do business with, and on what terms,” she said. “We made a mistake with Russia.”
Speaking to reporters after the visit, a senior commission official said Brussels’ cooperation with Manila had been “significantly advanced due to the change of government,” noting the improvements on human rights in the Philippines.Former president Rodrigo Duterte’s self-proclaimed war on drugs is estimated to have led to the deaths of 12,000 Filipinos, according to Human Rights Watch, which has called on Duterte to co-operate with an investigation by the International Criminal Court.
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