President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Friday expressed concern over the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza and continuing violence in the Middle East.
The President urged concerned parties to negotiate for peace.
“The Philippines as well is gravely concerned over the catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza and the increasing tensions in the Middle East region, particularly in Lebanon,” President Marcos said in his intervention during the 19th East Asia Summit in Vientiane, Laos.
“We urge all parties to refrain from escalating the violence and to work towards a peaceful resolution of the conflict. The Philippines supports a two-state solution where Israel and Palestine coexist peacefully in mutual security.”
A total of 11,000 Filipinos are in Lebanon, with 192 ready for repatriation, and around 413 in process, according to Philippine authorities.
President Marcos has directed different government agencies to mobilize their resources and assets to bring affected Filipinos home.
He called on all EAS participating countries at the summit to renew their commitment towards a truly open, inclusive, and transparent regional architecture underpinned by the rule of law to address common challenges, and confront the critical issues.
On the Korean Peninsula issue, President Marcos urged the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s (DPRK) to comply with all relevant United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions, noting the Philippines welcomes the Republic of Korea’s efforts to promote peace and stability in the Peninsula.
“The “Audacious Initiative” and the “August 15 Unification Doctrine” are important efforts in this regard. We have consistently supported the call for a complete, verifiable, and irreversible denuclearization of the DPRK,” he said. | PND
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