(Eagle News) — President Rodrigo Duterte has already sent Presidential Adviser on Overseas Filipino Workers Abdullah Mamao to Iran and Iraq to talk with the leaders of these countries for the purpose of securing Filipinos in the midst of heightening tension in the region, according to a Malacanang announcement. “Well, I have sent Secretary Mamao. He is a Maranao. He’s a Cabinet member. He’s my fraternity brother. I trust him,” the President said in […]
Tag: Middle East
Duterte: PHL won’t deploy troops to Middle East unless national interest requires so
(Eagle News) — President Rodrigo Duterte will not deploy Philippine troops to the Middle East unless the national interest requires it. This is according to President Duterte himself, who spoke to reporters on Tuesday, Jan. 7. “(It’s) out of the question. Unless the national interest would demand it and it will be decided not by me but me and Congress,” Duterte said. According to the President, the Philippines would honor its Mutual Defense Treaty with […]
Senate ready should Duterte convene special session of Congress for standby OFW repatriation funds
(Eagle News)-The Senate is ready should President Rodrigo Duterte convene a special session of Congress for the creation of standby funds for Overseas Filipino Workers in the Middle East. “If ever the President will request for a special session for the need to pass a supplemental budget to help repatriate our kababayans from the Middle East, we in the Senate are prepared to act on his request and can meet at anytime in the interest […]
Palace: If Filipinos in Middle East are harmed, Duterte will side with US
(Eagle News) — If Filipinos in the Middle East are harmed amid the rising tensions between Iran and Iraq, and the United States, the Philippines will side with the US, the Palace said on Tuesday, Jan. 7. In a press conference, Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said this was the position President Rodrigo Duterte made known during the 45th Cabinet meeting on Monday, Jan. 6, in which he expressed concerns about the welfare of Overseas Filipino […]
Duterte gives order for repatriation plan amid rising Middle East tensions
(Eagle News)-President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered some Cabinet members to undertake measures for the possible repatriation of Filipinos in the Middle East amid the escalating tensions between the United States, Iran and Iraq. Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said the President gave the order in the 45th Cabinet meeting on Monday, Jan. 6, where he aired his concerns for Filipinos there following the US killing of Iran top military official Qassam Soleimani. Panelo said a committee […]
Israeli minister seeks ‘non-aggression’ pacts with Gulf Arab nations
JERUSALEM, Undefined (AFP) — Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz said Sunday he was seeking “non-aggression” agreements with Gulf Arab nations that do not formally recognize the country as a prelude to possible future peace deals. Details of the proposal were not made public, but it was the latest sign of Israel’s push to improve ties with Gulf Arab nations with whom it has no formal diplomatic relations. Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territory has long […]
PHL to seek to deepen ties with Africa, Central Asia, Latin America in remaining years of Duterte’s term
(Eagle News)–President Rodrigo Duterte has said the Philippines would seek to deepen ties with Latin America, Africa and Central Asia in the remaining years of his term. In his speech before the plenary of the 16th annual meeting of the Valdai Discussion Club in Sochi, the President said it was also “high time the Philippines look at the Middle East with fresh eyes going beyond oil and Overseas Filipino Workers.” “As one of the fastest-growing […]
Pompeo heads to Saudi Arabia, UAE for Iran crisis talks
WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Sunday he will visit Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates for talks on the crisis sparked by Iran’s downing an American drone. “We’ll be talking with them about how to make sure that we are all strategically aligned and how we can build out a global coalition” on Iran, he said. Iran shot down a US Global Hawk drone on Thursday, saying […]
US to launch economic workshop as part of Middle East peace plan
WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — The United States will host a conference in Bahrain next month focused on the economic aspects of the Middle East peace plan promised by President Donald Trump, which aims to achieve Palestinian prosperity. The workshop co-organized with Manama, running June 25-26, will bring together government, civil society and business leaders. “This workshop is a pivotal opportunity… to share ideas, discuss strategies and galvanize support for potential economic investments and initiatives […]
Trump appears to slow Syria troop pullout plan
by Sebastian Smith Agence France-Presse WASHINGTON, United States – President Donald Trump appeared to backtrack Monday on shock plans for an immediate pullout of US troops from Syria, but said his drive to end American involvement in wars made him a “hero.” The shift came a day after a senior Republican senator said Trump had promised to stay in Syria to finish the job of defeating the Islamic State group, also known as ISIS. Trump […]
President Duterte given full military honors as King Abdullah II welcomes him in Jordan
(Eagle News) — President Rodrigo Duterte is welcomed by Jordan’s King Abdullah bin Al-Hussein at the Al Husseinieh Palace on Thursday, Sept. 6, in ceremonies where the Philippine president was given full military honors and the Philippine National Anthem was played for the first time at the Royal Palace of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. This is the first time that a Philippine president has visited this Middle East country. President Duterte and Jordan’s […]
World leaders warn US Jerusalem move fans Mideast tension
by Gina Doggett Agence France-Presse PARIS, France – Both friends and foes of the United States voiced criticism Monday as Washington opened its embassy in the disputed city of Jerusalem, saying the move would fan Middle East tensions. Chief US ally Britain reiterated its stated objection to the move, while the Iranian speaker of parliament said it showed that US President Donald Trump is “feebleminded” and “incapable of evaluating the long-term consequences of his actions”. […]





