Aquino optimistic rift with Taiwan will be resolved without apology

President Benigno Simeon Aquino III on Wednesday expressed optimism that the Philippine-Taiwan rift will be resolved without the Philippine government having to apologize for the deportation of 14 Taiwanese nationals to China. In an interview after attending a Youth Day activity at Rizal High School in Pasig City, Aquino said it was Taiwan's prerogative to freeze the hiring of Filipino workers and the Philippine government will not retaliate. “Para kayo mag-away dapat may dalawang grupong gustong mag-away. Pinaliwanag nila ang posisyon nila, pinaliwanag din natin ang posisyon natin. I am sure there will be a resolution perhaps not immediately but there will be a resolution," he said. The President admitted that the mission to Taiwan of former senator Manuel Roxas II was not very successful. He said Roxas sent him a text message “reporting progress or lack of progress on the discussion but I am supposed to meet him today to get a full report." “Parang hindi ganun ka successful (because) they were asking for us to apologize and I don't believe that there is something we have to apologize for given the circumstances," Aquino said. He added the Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO) will continue to represent the interest of the Filipino people to Taiwan. “They have their political realities in Taiwan and we understand where they are coming from and we hope they understand also where we are coming from," the President said. He said if the Taiwan will pushed through with its plan to stop hiring Filipino workers, he will direct the Department of Labor and Employment, Philippine Overseas Employment Agency, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) and other concerned agencies to retrain the workers. He would also instruct the agencies to look for other places for deployment of Filipino workers and more importantly create jobs in the country. “There are other territories for instance that have signified desire to hire OFWs at the same time if we can provide jobs here why not," he said. The President said what is important is that China informed the country of the existence of the fraud syndicates preying on their citizens. “We arrested, we gathered evidence (against the suspected members of the fraud ring). We are sending the message that the Philippines is not a haven for criminals. Ang importante siguro natigil ang sindikatong ito," Aquino said. – VVP, GMA News