Statement of the Philippine Council on Foreign Relations on foreign ambassadors’ statement of support for BBL

THE European and other ambassadors’ statement appearing in media today supporting the CAB and the BBL, whose constitutionality has been challenged by various sectors of Philippine society and which is now pending in the Supreme Court and being deliberated in Congress, show a lack of respect for Philippine laws and can be considered an undue interference in the affairs of a nation to which these ambassadors have been accredited.

The joint statement is allegedly an expression of “concern(ed) with the delay in the implementation of the CAB,” according to the news reports.

Specifically, the concern is in regard “to the long term political, economic and social pillars that will bring the peace dividend to the country as a whole” according to the “unity” statement.

The “unity” statement “ask(s) for a continued commitment … to enable the Bangsamoro people to form an effective and inclusive, devolved administration as called for in the 2014 Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro.”

The final point in the “unity” statement declares that “it is important that work on normalization progresses credibly.”

The Philippine Council for Foreign Relations take exception to this manifesto for the following reasons:

Firstly, the above is a value judgment on the impact of the CAB/BBL of the nation.
Secondly, it is politically incorrect for foreign diplomats to comment on matters that are of purely domestic concern in their host country which is a violation of the historically-honored rule of non interference in domestic affairs of other countries.

In the above instance, this is compounded by the fact that:

1. The matter is currently being deliberated before the Congress of the Philippines

2. The matter is now “sub-judice” before the Supreme Court of the Philippines
Before the statement is construed as exerting of undue influence by the diplomats on branches of this government, the PCFR therefore requests the above group to cease and desist in making statements like the one they have made and make an apology to the Philippine government.

Signed for the Trustees and the general membership by Amb. Jose V. Romero, Jr. Ph.D.
President, Philippine Council for Foreign Relations, Inc.

The PCFR is composed retired ambassadors, multi-sectoral organizations, retired flag officers, members of academe, businessmen, and distinguished members of civil society.

source:  Manila Times