MANILA – The Malacañang dared the European Union’s lawmaking body to revoke the tariff incentives on the exports entering the Philippines.
Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque made the statement after the European Parliament called for a review of the country’s tariff incentives due to the alleged human rights abuses and the “deteriorating level of press freedom in the Philippines.”
“Kung gusto nilang dagdagan ang pahirap ng sambayanang Pilipino sa panahon ng pandemya, so be it. We will accept that as history repeating itself,” Roque said in a press conference Friday.
Roque furthered that the country cannot be threatened even as the country continues to grapple with the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.
“Sorry for being very undiplomatic but what else can I say? At a time of pandemic they’re threatening us? Susmaryosep. What else do we lose?” Roque said.
“Ang ating demokrasya ay nakikita ng lahat pero hindi po tayo makukuha ng pananakot sa panahon ng pandemya dahil we have hit rock bottom,” he added./PN
