PH reiterates open door policy in 30th year of ties with Ukraine

MANILA – The Philippine government, through the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), has reiterated its readiness to accept Ukrainian refugees amid the ongoing war and humanitarian crisis in the European state.

The DFA’s statement came as Manila commemorated 30 years of diplomatic relations with Ukraine on Thursday.

“In keeping with its long tradition of providing humanitarian assistance, the Philippines stands ready to welcome Ukrainians seeking refuge from the war in their country,” the DFA said.

The Philippines was among the countries to respond to the United Nations’ USD1.7 billion flash appeal in March, pledging USD100,000 or approximately PHP5 million to help provide necessary humanitarian aid to people inside the war-torn state, including those seeking shelter beyond its borders.

In a recent opinion piece, Ukrainian Ambassador to the Philippines Olexander Nechytaylo said Ukraine is grateful for Manila’s decision to open its doors to Ukrainians.

“Essentially, we share the same values, and this is one of the reasons why there are so many people-to-people connections. Today Ukraine is fighting for its freedom again,” he said.

“The Philippines’ consistent support of Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity is very important to us. We are equally grateful for the most recent decision to open the door to Ukrainians, who might temporarily need a safe place in the midst of this raging war: this is something we will never forget,” he added.

‘Fighting for rights’

As Ukraine fights for its rights and freedom, Nechytaylo also drew comparisons between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Filipino national hero Dr. Jose Rizal.

“Jose Rizal once said: ‘I don’t see why I should bow my head when I could hold it high, or place it in the hands of my enemies when I can defeat them.’ At a closer look one may find some striking similarities between him and President Zelenskyy, particularly when it comes to the ability to inspire and lead the nation during the pivotal moments of its history,” he said.

The envoy noted that by invading Ukraine, Moscow had violated not only the international law and the UN Charter but also the 1994 Budapest Memorandum, the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia, and at least a dozen more bilateral and multilateral agreements that Russia is a party to.

“While waging a war on Ukraine, the Russian military is deliberately targeting civilians, residential homes, critical infrastructure, medical facilities, and shelters. Foreign Minister Lavrov at a press conference in Antalya did not even try to conceal it: Russian pilots purposely bombed the maternity hospital in Mariupol,” he said.

He said the Bucha tragedy also “puts the whole magnitude and brutality of crimes committed by the Russia military into an entirely new dimension.”

Ukraine had accused Russian forces of committing war crimes in the town while Moscow claimed the allegations as “fake news”.

READ: Pope decries ‘horrendous cruelties’ in Ukraine amid war

Recently, horrifying images of civilians lying on the streets of Bucha, some of whom had their hands tied behind their backs and others burned in mass graves, have prompted international calls for a war crimes investigation.

Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. on Thursday retweeted a New Yorker article titled “Collecting Bodies in Bucha”, detailing firsthand accounts from Bucha residents who found members of their family and their neighbors, most of whom had gunshot wounds on the head, dead after the Russian forces withdrew from the town.

With only five words, Locsin captioned: “This explains our UN vote”.

The UN said the Russian offensive since February 24 has so far displaced more than 10 million people, around 4.2 million of whom have fled Ukraine’s borders.

It also recorded at least 3,455 civilian casualties in the country as of April 3, of whom 1,417 were killed and 2,038 were injured.