Ni ELLSON A. QUISMORIO, May ulat ni Argyll Cyrus B. Geducos
Sinabi kahapon ni Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau na naging “frank” lamang siya nang binanggit niya kay Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte ang pagkabahala ng kanyang bansa sa usapin ng extra-judicial killings (EJKs) at karapatang pantao sa Pilipinas, nang magkausap sila nang personal.
“I actually had an opportunity to have a conversation with President Duterte just before our meeting earlier this morning in which I emphasized the people to people ties between Canada and the Philippines, the great connection there,” sinabi ni Trudeau sa mga mamamahayag na nagko-cover ng 31st ASEAN Summit sa international media center sa Pasay City.
“But I also mentioned human rights, the rule of law and specifically, extra-judicial killings as being an issue that Canada is concerned with,” sabi ni Trudeau.
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“Canada has earned a reputation of having strong and sometimes frank...always frank, sometimes firm discussion around rule of law and human rights with partners around the world,” paliwanag pa ng 45-anyos na pinuno, na mistulang celebrity kung tratuhin ng mga Pinoy dahil sa kanyang guwapong mukha at kababaang-loob.
ROCKSTAR APPEAL
Nag-viral pa sa Pinoy netizens si Trudeau nitong Linggo nang kumalat ang mga litrato niya habang bumibili ng takeout at nakikihalubilo sa mga kumakain sa isang fast food chain sa Maynila, na sinundan ng pakikisalamuha niya sa ilang mahihirap na pamilya sa Tondo, ilang oras makaraang dumating siya sa bansa.
“We know that talking about human rights is an essential part of a path forward, it must be done in an honest and frank way, but it has to be done. We have to talk about the high expectation we must have to protect life, to uphold the law and human rights,” dagdag pa ni Trudeau. “Canada is a country that always brings up human rights issues ang strongly engages in line with our values anywhere in the world. Countries have accepted that and expect that even of Canada.”
Kilala si Pangulong Duterte na nagagalit kapag pinupuna ang kampanya ng kanyang administrasyon laban sa droga, at ilang world leader at institusyon na rin ang minura niya at kinondena sa pagbatikos sa kanyang drug war, partikular sa libu-libo nang drug suspects na nasawi dahil dito.
‘RECEPTIVE’ SI DUTERTE
Kaya naman nang tanungin si Trudeau kung ano ang naging reaksiyon ni Duterte sa pagbanggit niya sa EJKs, sinabi ng prime minister na ang Pangulo “was receptive to my comments and it was throughout was a very cordial and positive exchange.”
“As I mentioned to President Duterte, we are concerned with human rights, we are concerned with extra-judicial killings, impressed upon him the need for respect to the rule of law and as always offered Canada’s support and help as a friend to help move forward on what is the real challenge,” sabi ni Trudeau, na hindi naman binanggit kung tinanggap ni Duterte ang kanyang alok.
Iginiit ni Trudeau na ang usapin ng karapatang pantao ay “something that is important to Canadians and it is important to the world and I will always bring that that up.”
BABAWIIN ANG BASURA
Samantala, tiniyak din ni Trudeau na reresolbahin ng Canada ang usapin sa 55 container ng basura na itinambak sa Pilipinas noong 2013, at binanggit din umano niya it okay Pangulong Duterte.
“I know it has been a long-standing irritant and I committed to him [Duterte], and I’m happy to commit to all of you now that Canada is very much engaged in finding a solution on that,” sabi ni Trudeau.
Paliwanag ni Trudeau, hindi nagawang mabawi ng Canada ang nasabing kargamento ng mga basura dahil sa legal restrictions ng kanyang bansa, na ayon sa kanya ay naresolba na.
Nilinaw din niyang ang pag-aangkat sa nasabing basura ay resulta ng pribadong transaksiyon at walang kinalaman dito ang gobyerno ng Canada.
