MANILA (October 29) – Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro L. Locsin, Jr. said he will continue to pursue President Rodrigo Duterte’s foreign policy direction by strengthening the country’s relationship with traditional allies and reaching out to new partners in the international community.
Locsin, during a meeting with senior officials of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), said he looks forward to working with them in advancing the independent foreign policy of the Duterte Administration.
“My idea of an independent foreign policy is not to switch masters before whom we kneel but to get off our knees and stand on our feet and stand up for our country. That’s it,” said Secretary Locsin, who has been serving as Philippine Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York until he was named by President Duterte two weeks ago to succeed Secretary Alan Peter S. Cayetano.
“We are working for a good president and we have a good job ahead of us,” said Secretary Locsin as he described the President’s views on foreign policy issues as far more independent than what has been presented in media.
Locsin also took the opportunity to pay tribute to the career foreign service corps, saying it was an honor for him to be heading what he described as the most professional of the departments of government.
“That is the reason why I devolved to the DFA the responsibility for the implementation of the Overseas Voting Act of which I was a co-author and proponent on the floor of the House,” the former lawmaker said.
“The DFA is the most professional of all departments of government and it is that professionalism that I will help you preserve and protect,” the Secretary said.- NewsLine
