Presidential spokesman Ignacio Bunye said while the government will not take rebukes from top Australian officials on the pullout, it still believes that ties with Australia will remain strong as ever.
"On the whole, I think our good relationships with Australia will remain. Our countries will continue to cooperate with each other," he said in a radio interview, optimistic that the "misunderstanding" is only temporary and would never undermine the long-standing partnership between the Philippines and Australia.
Earlier on, the Philippine government has lodged a diplomatic protest expressing the country’s "objections and disappointment" over the statements made by some Australian officials against the government’s decision to pull out the Filipino humanitarian contingent a month ahead of schedule.
The Arroyo administration was forced to recall the contingent in Iraq early in reaction to the threat of Iraqi militants to behead captured Filipino truck driver Angelo de la Cruz.
Its decision, however, earned rebukes from the United States and Australia, which has taken the cudgels for the US as far as the matter was concerned.
Australia charged that Manila’s retreat from Iraq only weakened the international campaign against terrorism and emboldened the Iraqi fighters to abduct more foreigners working for US forces and the rehabilitation of the violencewracked country.
Yesterday, Arab satellite TV reported that two Pakistanis were beheaded by Iraqi fighters.
The rebuke over the government’s pullout decision came from Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer and was seconded by Australian Prime Minister John Howard.
A diplomatic protest was lodged with Australian Ambassador to the Philippine Ruth Pearce, who recently was conferred the prestigious Sikatuna Award.
Meanwhile, Bunye announced that the Saudi Arabian government has agreed with the proposal made by the Philippine government to "offload" Filipino truck drivers at the Saudi-Iraq border to avoid a repetition of the De la Cruz hostage crisis.
Time to move on
Administration lawmakers yesterday urged foreign governments to quit attacking the Arroyo government, arguing that it is time for everyone to move on after Philippines withdrew its contingent in Iraq and spared the life of truck driver Angelo de la Cruz.
Lakas-CMD Rep. Prospero Pichay Jr. of Surigao del Sur and Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) Rep. Benasing Macarambon said the criticisms heaped on Arroyo by the Australian Prime Minister Howard and Foreign Minister Alexander Downer do not help solve the abductions in Iraq nor do they firm up the existing relationship between Canberra and Manila.
The two legislators said Australia and the Philippines should display mutual respect for the foreign policy of each country in deference to their closeties and their respective national interests.
"Australian officials should respect the foreign policy of the country in the same way that the Arroyo government respects Canberra’s foreign policy. They should understand that the pullout was in consonance with our national interest, which is the welfare of our 1.5 million overseas Filipino workers (OFWs)," the congressmen said.
Persona non grata
An Arroyo ally has warned that Congress may be forced to declare Australian Ambassador Ruth Pearce as persona non grata.
Thus warned Cagayan de Oro Rep. Constantino Jaraula as he expressed dismay over the continuing "arrogance" being displayed by the diplomat, who did not even apologize for the "unfair statements" of Australian officials against the Philippines.
Jaraula took exception to the criticisms by Australian Prime Minister John Howard and Foreign Minister Alexander Downer of the Arroyo government’s decision to withdraw the 51-man Philippine contingent to save the life of truck driver Angelo de la Cruz.
"If the situation worsens, the Senate and the House of Representatives might be compelled to issue a joint resolution declaring her as persona non grata," Jaraula said referring to Pearce.
Jaraula said that since Howard and Downer cannot be declared persona non grata, Congress could turn on Australia’s representative to Manila.
He insisted that though the Philippines is a Third World country, it deserves respect from rich countries like Australia, which had manifested "unfair relations" with the Philippines before. (Edmer Panesa)
