House expresses strong support, solidarity with Republic of Korea

“The Philippines and South Korea have historically been and continue to be close diplomatic and military allies, and significant economic partners in terms of trade, immigration, and tourism.” (File photo by Joan Bondoc via Philippine News Agency/Facebook)

MANILA – The House of Representatives on Monday adopted a resolution expressing its strong support and solidarity with the Republic of Korea in commemoration of the 70th anniversary of the Korean Armistice Agreement on July 27.

House Resolution (HR) 1126, which was also based on the celebration of the 10th United Nations (UN) Forces Participation Day, was introduced by Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez, Senior Deputy Speaker Aurelio D. Gonzales, Majority Leader Manuel Jose M. Dalipe, Senior Majority Leader Ferdinand Alexander A. Marcos, Minority Leader Marcelino C. Libanan, and Tingog Party-list Reps. Yedda Marie K. Romualdez and Jude A. Acidre.

“This resolution recognizes the longstanding friendship between the Philippines and the Republic of Korea that started way before the signing of the Korean Armistice Agreement in 1953 and has flourished since then. We hope the ties that bind both our countries together shall be perpetually strong,” Romualdez said.

The year 2023 marks the 70th anniversary of the signing of the Korean Armistice Agreement on July 27, 1953 by military commanders from the United States representing the United Nations Command, the Korean People’s Army, and the Chinese People’s Volunteer Army, ending roughly three years of fighting in the 1950-1953 Korean War, according to the resolution.

“In July 2013, on the eve of the 60th anniversary of the end of the Korean War, South Korea proclaimed through Act No. 17117, July 27 of every year as the ‘United Nations Forces Participation Day’ … to honor and pay tribute to the participating UN member states who fought alongside South Korea in the three-year war,” HR 1126 read.

It added that the UN Forces Participation Day and the International Memorial Day for UN Korean War Veterans “not only serve as a reminder of the importance of international support and cooperation in maintaining peace and security but moreover, it highlights the strong alliance and diplomatic relations among member states in the international community.”

The resolution stated that based on UN Security Council Resolution 83 and Resolution 84, “the Philippines enacted Republic Act (RA) No. 573, otherwise known as the ‘Philippine Military Aid to the United Nations Act,’ which made possible the sending of a Philippine Expeditionary Force to Korea (PEFTOK) to help South Korea defend itself from the invasion of the North.”

“The bilateral relations between the Philippines and South Korea have always been characterized by mutual trust and support, which started on March 3, 1949 upon the recognition of Republic of Korea as a sovereign state by the Philippines, the first ASEAN country to establish relations with the new nation, and the first Asian country to respond to the call of the United Nations to help South Korea when it was invaded by communist forces,” it added.

“The Philippines and South Korea have historically been and continue to be close diplomatic and military allies, and significant economic partners in terms of trade, immigration, and tourism.”

A copy of the resolution will be given to visiting Speaker Kim Jin-pyo of South Korea’s National Assembly on Monday afternoon.