TOP security officials, some government cabinet members and a few from the business fraternity, huddled in a meeting with President Rodrigo Duterte to discuss the Russian-Ukraine crisis.
The Philstar.com portal reported on Tuesday, because of the urgency of the conflict triggered by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Duterte had called for the “special meeting”.
“I will be calling for a special meeting. We will discuss what is evolving or what’s happening in Europe. I want you to listen to how important it is that we know all this is happening right now.
“I’ll be meeting the police, the military and the businessmen for you to understand… it will be a combination of the military, the police and the civilian plus the Cabinet.
“The invitation is for all so that we can have an exchange of ideas between the military and police on one hand, and the businessmen so that we can come up with a sensible front of how to handle this thing,” he said earlier.
Duterte has designated Cabinet Secretary and acting presidential spokesman Karlo Nograles as the “sole spokesman” to discuss the outcome of the meeting.
Nograles said ranking officials of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) and select Cabinet officials were invited to the meeting.
Nograles said because of the “sensitivity of the topics” to be discussed and their implications on national security, the meeting was not aired live.
“But in any case, at the end of the meeting we will issue a statement to apprise the people. What’s important here is, the instructions really of the President is to make sure that the Filipino people, our nation, our countrymen are fully and well aware of the situation, what is going on in Europe, primarily on the situation in Ukraine; what is its implication on our country, our fellow citizens and our economy,” he said.
“And we have to keep the Filipinos abreast of any and all developments pertaining to the situation in Ukraine and in Europe in general. And let us pray that the world leaders will all find avenues for peace,” he said.
The Philippines on Monday voted “yes” to a United Nations General Assembly resolution explicitly condemning Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Source: New Straits Times
