MANILA, (PNA) — A Palace official said the trip of Pres. Benigno Aquino III to South Korea is part of fulfilling his international commitment.
Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda was reacting to observation by critics that Aquino should follow US Pres. Barack Obama’s decision to cancel his trip to Malaysia and the Philippines recently to attend to the US government shutdown.
“We do also have our international commitments. One of that is to further better our relations with South Korea,” he said.
Critics said Aquino should have stayed in the country to oversee the relief operations in areas hit by the magnitude 7.2 quake, particularly Bohol and Cebu.
“Hindi natin maaalis ang ganyang obserbasyon. Iba ang nangyayari sa Amerika, tuloy-tuloy ang problema sa kanilang shutdown,” Lacierda said.
“Itong sa Cebu at Bohol, the president is very firm that we will restore Bohol,” he added.
Prior to leaving for South Korea, Aquino visited Bohol and Cebu to monitor and assess the situation there.
“Nagkaroon ng assessment and the president already gave instructions and those instructions are already being carried out,” the Palace spokesperson said.
Lacierda said Aquino is still in charge of the ongoing government efforts to assist quake-damaged areas in Central Visayas, even when he is in South Korea.
“Even while the president is fulfilling his international commitment, the president is on top of the situation and he’s in touch with the Cabinet on the ongoing efforts in Cebu and Bohol,” Lacierda said.
In his pre-departure speech, Aquino said his trip seeks to strengthen the country’s long-standing ties with South Korea, to attract investors and increase tourist arrivals.