“There is no agreement, there is a proposal propounded by the Australian government and we are seriously considering it and studying the matter”, the President said in a forum with the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines (Focap) at Solaire in Paranaque City.
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Aquino also denied that the Marcoses are enjoying renewed support and popularity, based on social media posts and the appearance of Gov Imee Marcos on the cover of a glossy magazine. “We would want to assist but there are limitations as to how far we can assist”.
This article was based on a report by Willard Cheng that appeared on ABS-CBNnews.com and is being used with ABS-CBN’s permission.
He recalled how in the aftermath of the wars in Indochina, the Philippines was helping refugees from that region.
“The engagement actually was 15 years, and we had to take in several hundred thousands in that period of time, a few of whom have actually become permanent residents in the country”, Aquino said.
Mr Aquino did not elaborate on the “proposed agreement”, which was alluded to earlier this month after Foreign Minister Julie Bishop visited the Philippines.
“I don’t think Australia should give up”, he said. Assistance will be offered but with limitations, he told reporters.
The news follows recent criticism of the Government’s resettlement deal with Cambodia, which has seen one of the four refugees transferred from Nauru to Phnom Penh return to his home country.
Aquino pointed out to Australia that the country has significantly bigger population with a smaller land area, and thus, there are challenges to meet the needs of his own people.
Canberra and Manila have held talks about resettling a few of the refugees in the Philippines after a similar deal with Cambodia struggled to get off the ground. Australian Greens spokeswoman Sarah Hanson-Young said the government should ditch the “absurd” policy of dumping people throughout the Pacific.
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He said they would “continue the negotiations (with the Philippines) because there is good faith on both sides”.
