Tuesday, February 10, 2015

Philippines, Indonesia ink pacts, including protection of migrant workers

THE Philippines and Indonesia signed on Monday four agreements, including the joint declaration on the protection of migrants and migrant workers.
But during the joint statements of President Benigno Aquino III and his Indonesian counterpart, Joko Widodo, they did not mention about the case of a female Filipino convicted of drug smuggling and was supposed to be executed by firing squad.
The joint declaration signed by Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario and Indonesian Foreign Affairs Minister Retno Marsudi aims to strengthen cooperation between the two countries in the promotion and protection of the rights of migrants and migrant workers, through such mechanisms as cooperation on the matter between their respective diplomatic and consular missions abroad.

Indonesia has deferred the execution of the convicted Filipina drug smuggler pending review of her case as requested by the Philippine government.
The two leaders also discussed border issues, political cooperation, and legal cooperation.
The Philippines and Indonesia also signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to combat illicit drug trafficking.
Widodo invited Aquino to attend the World Economic Forum on East Asia 2015 to be held in Bali and the 60th anniversary of the Asia-Africa Conference to be held in Jakarta and Bandung this April.
Aquino expressed hope that under Widodo's leadership, the relations of the two countries will further strengthen.
"More than 65 years since the formal establishment of our bilateral ties, I believe we can continue to look to the future with optimism, and that our relations will be further strengthened during President Widodo's administration," he said.
The two other MOUs signed by the two countries include cooperation in the field of technical vocational education and training, and cooperation in education, training and research in areas of defense and security.
Widodo has been on a two-day introductory state visit in the Philippines after his assumption to office in October last year. 

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