Speaker Martin Romualdez lauded President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for strengthening the bonds of friendship and cooperation between the Philippines and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
“The President’s cultivation of our strong ties with the UAE is what prompted UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed to recently grant pardon to 143 Filipinos,” the leader of the 300-plus-strong House of Representatives said.
“We support the foreign policy thrust of our President in fostering friendly interaction and cooperation with other countries and in making the Philippines, to use his words, ‘a friend to all, an enemy to none’,” Romualdez said.
He said he looks forward to closer and stronger ties between the Philippines and UAE.
Marcos has revealed that he has talked to his UAE counterpart over the phone to thank him for pardoning 143 Filipinos, and for the assistance the Arab country has given the Philippines following recent typhoons.
“I extended to him my heartfelt thanks for the UAE’s humanitarian aid in the wake of the recent typhoons and floods that struck the Philippines,” the President said.
“It is always inspiring to hear how our Filipino workers continue to excel and make a positive contribution in the UAE. I expressed my gratitude for the kindness extended to them, particularly their generous pardon of 143 Filipinos, which has brought relief to many families,” he added.
Romualdez, in a press release from his office Oct. 16, also thanked the UAE president “for his kind gesture in pardoning our compatriots and in giving them a second chance at rehabilitating and improving themselves.”
“In behalf of our pardoned kababayan and their families, we would like to express our deep gratitude to President Mohamed bin Zayed. We also would like to thank him for hosting thousands of overseas Filipino workers and for treating them well,” he said.
He said the presidential pardon “brought immense relief to our compatriots and their loved ones, and further strengthened the bonds of friendship between our two countries. We hope we could reciprocate their kindness in the future, even in terms of our country providing them their labor requirements and our OFWs rendering efficient and excellent service.” ||
