ISRAELI Ambassador Rafael Harpaz and Russian Ambassador Igor Khovaev paid courtesy calls to President Rodrigo R. Duterte on Thursday to reaffirm ties with the Philippines, Malacañang said on Thursday night.
Both envoys have also expressed their condolences to the deaths caused by the Jan. 27 Jolo bombing.
Presidential Spokesperson Salvador S. Panelo said Mr. Harpaz reported to Mr. Duterte Israel’s ratification of agreements with the Philippines regarding the improvement of opportunities for overseas Filipinos in the Middle Eastern country.
“The Israeli Ambassador further expressed hope in forging greater PH-Israel cooperation in the industries of agriculture and trade,” Mr. Panelo said in a statement on Thursday evening.
Mr. Duterte visited Israel in September last year and signed bilateral agreements on labor, science, and trade. Among the deals secured was the memorandum of agreement on the temporary employment of Filipino Home-Based Caregivers in Israel.
Mr. Panelo said Mr. Khovaev reiterated to the President Russia’s commitment to improve the Philippines’ national defense capabilities following the twin bombings in Jolo, Sulu, last Sunday.
“The Russian Ambassador reiterated their condolences for the deaths caused by the twin explosions in Jolo and condemned the incident while reaffirming their country’s commitment to help our nation combat terrorism…. Ambassador Khovaev thereafter expressed that Russia intends to build a long-term relationship with the Philippines based on trust and confidence,” Mr. Panelo said.
“In response, PRRD (President Rodrigo R. Duterte) reaffirmed the importance placed by the Philippines on its relations with Russia and renewed the commitment to further expand and deepen our country’s cooperative ties with them,” he added.
The Department of National Defense (DND) reported last November that the Philippines and Russia have finalized a 2019 military cooperation activities plan, which included high-level visits, port visits, and training exchanges.
Russian warships docked at the Manila Port for a five-day goodwill visit on Jan. 7. In October last year, the Philippines’ BRP Tarlac made a port visit in Vladisvostok, Russia.
The courtesy calls were also attended by Executive Secretary Salvador C. Medialdea, Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro L. Locsin Jr., Defense Secretary Delfin N. Lorenzana, and National Security Adviser Hermogenes C. Esperon, Jr. — Camille A. Aguinaldo

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR