Philippines forging closer relations with Gulf states

Riyadh : Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte arrived Monday night in Saudi Arabia, as part of a multi-nation tour aimed at boosting ties with the Gulf Cooperation Council nations. 

Saudi Arabia falls in the first leg of Duterte’s first trip to the Middle East, which is the home and destination of the largest overseas Filipinos in the region. The tour will also take Duterte to Bahrain and Qatar, home to more than 300,000 other Filipino workers.

The trip aims to forge stronger partnerships with the Saudi government, both in the political and economic fronts, and strengthen efforts to protect the rights of overseas Filipino workers.  

Following his arrival in Riyadh, Duterte held talks with Custodian of Two Holy Mosques Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, King of Saudi Arabia. Discussions focused on enhancing bilateral relations and ways to enhance it, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported. 

Earlier, the Assistant Foreign Secretary Hjayceelyn Quintana told reporters that workers’ welfare will be a focus of Duterte’s talks with Saudi King Salman, King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa of Bahrain and Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani of Qatar.

It was also announced that the President’s centrepiece programme, the campaign against illegal drugs, is one of the points that may be discussed in his meetings.  The Philippines hopes to get the cooperation of Saudi Arabia to combat the drug scourge, particularly in intelligence sharing and capacity building.

First Secretary and Philippine Consul-General to Saudi Arabia Iric C. Arribas hopes that Duterte’s state visit would enhance further the relations between Manila and Riyadh.

A number of Filipinos are jailed in Saudi for drug-related cases. Arribas, however, underscored that it is important to respect the legal system of the host country.