Q: Sir, what are your expectations sa visit niyo po sa Japan?
PRESIDENT MARCOS: Maraming — actually sa Japan is different from the other places that we’ve been wherein we just opened up the conversations. Sa Japan, very well developed na ‘yung mga interactions natin with G2G, even sa commercial.
So what we are really having to do now is we are going to have to — we’re finalizing some of the projects that for example were postponed because of the pandemic, lockdowns and also now some new projects that are follow on from kung ano ‘yung dati.
So that’s why kung titignan niyo ‘yung schedule very specific, may purpose ang bawat meeting, hindi ‘yung general introduction of the Philippines to the EU or to another country.
Q: Sir, ang mga Japanese they are also keen na magkaroon ng VFA sa Philippines. Ang tawag nila doon ay Reciprocal Access Agreement. Do you think it’s time na magkaroon na tayo ng VFA with them? And may plano din sila na suportahan ang Coast Guard para magkaroon ng base ang Coast Guard sa Zambales, sa Subic.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: ‘Yung kanilang support — ‘yung support nila sa Coast Guard, matagal na ‘yun. They have actually — binibigyan tayo ng mga Coast Guard vessels so that kind of cooperation has been ongoing.
Siguro sa kanilang palagay the next step is to do the improvements, rehabilitation sa Subic para sa Coast Guard because naturally the reason behind all these is they would like to have more patrols along, up and down South China Sea para naman we can assure that the freedom of passage.
So the VFA equivalent hindi pa talaga namin napapag-usapan formally ‘yan. I don’t know if the Prime Minister will take it up — if Prime Minister Kishida will take it up with me in this trip. But so far — not been any formal proposals in that…
Q: Hi, sir. Good afternoon.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: Hello.
Q: Just a follow-up to that. So, because you’ve mentioned that we wanted to increase cooperation with Japan on South China Sea, what other ways do you want that to [inaudible] aside from cooperation with the PCG?
PRESIDENT MARCOS: Cooperation with?
Q: Because you mentioned po sir na we want to cooperate with the Japan more in areas like the South China Sea. What other ways do you want that to take shape aside from cooperation with the PCG po?
PRESIDENT MARCOS: Well, these things are ongoing and I think that — I’m sure that Japan wants to develop more and make even more robust and closer our relationship, especially in that regard. But that’s a new area because ang dealings natin with Japan have always been at the G2G, JICA, aid, [drug?] level, and of course, on the commercial side
So this is a new element to our relationship because we are now talking about security of the region. So being of course, all interested in the same thing, [inaudible] security in the region, I think cooperation is not a bad thing.
Q: Sir, kasama po ang memorandum of cooperation on agriculture, so what are we expecting to achieve in your talks with the Japanese leaders pagdating po dito?
PRESIDENT MARCOS: Well, number one, that opens up hindi lamang the usual exchange of technology but that’s an important part of it, but also investment in agriculture and hopefully opening markets in Japan for our agricultural products.
So that’s a very wide-ranging discussion. So yes, we hope to do a lot on that regard para ma-accelerate ‘yung ating agricultural development.
Q: Sir, may magiging chance ba for you to visit some tourist spots in Japan? Magkakaroon ka ng free time you know?
PRESIDENT MARCOS: I have a little free time but I don’t know how far I go ‘pag kaunti lang ‘yung free time, a couple of hours I think on the last day.
But I hope so. Japan is always very interesting. Japan is always — has something new to show you. So yeah, I would love to be able to. I hope I can.
Q: Mr. President, sir.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: Oh you’re here.
Q: Good afternoon, sir. Sir, may nagtatanong lang tungkol sa timing sir ng deportation ng apat na Japanese nationals na wanted po doon sa kanila. Is that a request from Japan na i-deport or is that a form of goodwill from the Philippines sir since bibisita po kayo?
PRESIDENT MARCOS: Well, it was actually in the process already before the Japan trip was even planned. Nagkataon lang na — it was just by coincidence that it happened
Of course, it cannot [inaudible] because it is a request — it was a request from the Japanese government and so we are always going to acquiesce to that request. We thought perhaps it would clear the decks as it were for the talks that we will have with the Japanese.
Q: Sir, just a follow-up, sir. Since sa Bureau of Immigration facility sila naka-detain and doon nangyari ‘yung allegedly ‘yung crime sir…
PRESIDENT MARCOS: ‘Yung?
Q: ‘Yung crime sir doon daw allegedly nangyari because they’re using their mobile phones. So how did you feel about that sir and papaano po ‘yung orders ninyo po about…?
PRESIDENT MARCOS: Well, we basically follow the same criteria as a[n] extradition. Although hindi na natin ginawang extradition kasi ang request nila para mas mabilis mag-deport na lang. So that’s precisely what we did.
Salamat.
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SOURCE: PCO-PND (Presidential News Desk)
