Senator Koko Pimentel III highlighted the independent foreign policy and war against drugs of President Rodrigo Duterte in his remarks before the 10th General Assembly of the International Conference of Asian Political Parties (ICAPP) in Moscow, Russia on October 25.
Pimentel participated in the meeting with the theme “The Role of Political Parties in Reducing International Tensions and Combating Extremism” as president of the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino Lakas ng Bayan (PDP Laban).
The seasoned senator opened his remarks by conveying to the organizers and participants the warmest greetings of friendship and solidarity of the President, who is also the national chairman of PDP Laban.
On reducing global tensions, Pimentel said the Duterte government has taken to heart the importance of reducing tensions and that this has meant adopting an independent foreign policy.
“We take no sides in the acrimonious debates, we do not participate in or encourage proxy battles. And we certainly do not support unilateral actions taken by clashing powers. Their differences are their own. We favor not one over the other. We stay firmly only on the side of peace,” he said.
“We take no sides in the acrimonious debates, we do not participate in or encourage proxy battles.”
On fighting extremism, Pimentel said one important aspect of fighting extremism is depriving its depraved proponents of the means of carrying out their unholy tasks.
“Illicit drugs have always been used by extremist not only to weaken the will of the society they seek to destroy but also to provide the funds with which to procure their tools of death,” the legislator said.
Pimentel stressed that the President has placed the highest priority in fighting the scourge of illicit drugs, saying “He knows that drugs destroy the future of our youth, weaken the family and threatens the entire country. He has taken effective measures that may seem extreme to some. But he is committed and determined to win this war.”
“He knows that drugs destroy the future of our youth, weaken the family and threatens the entire country.”
Pimentel also cited the battle for Marawi City where he said the extremists “engaged in massive drug trafficking to recruit adherence and to fund their arsenals. They even used the drug to keep awake and to garner false courage.”
ICAPP is a platform for exchanges and cooperation among political parties from Asia. This year’s assembly gathered together leaders and representatives of 70 political parties from Asia and observer parliamentarians from Europe and Latin. It was hosted by United Russia, the ruling party of the Russian Federation.
