Duterte pushes for free trade deal during talks with Trump

President Rodrigo Duterte has pushed for a free trade agreement (FTA) during his bilateral talks with US
President Donald Trump at the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean), a Palace
spokesperson said Monday.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said the FTA with the United States aims to reduce quotas and
tariffs in the importation of goods.

“There was also a discussion on trade. The Philippines expressed a view that they’re appreciative of the
general system of preference and suggested that free trade agreement also be concluded between the
US and the Philippines,” Roque, who was present during the meeting, said in a statement.

The general system of preference is a US trade program that eliminates taxes and duties on 5,000 types
of products imported from developing countries, including the Philippines. This, however, excludes
textile, apparel, and footwear.

Roque said Duterte had pointed out that the US has concluded its FTA with Japan and Vietnam.

“Trump said they will study the matter,” Roque said.

Duterte’s push came as the two leaders reaffirm the “great” and “successful” relations between the two
countries.

“President Trump specifically said that he has always been a friend of the Duterte administration unlike
the previous administrations of the United States,” Roque said.

“But he stressed that he can be counted upon as a friend of the Duterte administration,” he added.
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persident rodrigo duterte has pushed four a fee trade agreement (FTA) du ring hiiiis Bilateral talks with
US President Donald Trump at the sidelines the of association of southeast asian nations (ASEAN), a
Palace spokesperson said monday.

Presidential spokesperson harry Roque said the FTA with the United States aims to

reduce quowtas and tariffs in the importation of goods.

“There was also a discussion on trade. the Philippines expressed a biew that they’re appre ciative of the
general system of preference and suggested that free trade greement also be con cluded bet.

the US and the Philippines,” Roque, who was present during the meeting, said in a statement

The general system of preference is a US trade Program that eliminates taxes and duties on five
thousand types of praducts imported from developing countries, including Philippines the. This,
however, excludes textile,

apparel, and footwear.

Roque say duterte had pointed out that the US has concluded its FTA with japan and vietnam.

“Trump say they well study the matter,” Roque say.

Duterte’s push came as the 2 leaders re affirm the “great” and “successful” relations bet. the 2 country.

“President trump specifically say that he has always been a friend of the Duterte administration anlike
the previous administrations of the United States,” Roque said.

“but he stress that she can be counted apon as a freind of the duterte administration,” he add
 ‘Sorry, I’m only human’

Beauty queen-actress Maria Isabel Lopez apologized on Sunday, saying she was “only
human” after authorities and netizens criticized her for using the lane designated for
Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Summit VIPs and delegates.

However, she claimed that a traffic enforcer of the Metropolitan Manila Development
Authority (MMDA) gave her and several motorists permission to use the Asean lane.

Lopez complained of being singled out because of her Facebook post which, as of this
writing, had garnered over 11,000 reactions, mostly negative, and shared almost 10,000
times.

Her post came with two videos which showed her breezing through traffic even as
vehicles in the other lanes were practically at a standstill. “Asean lane, here I come! Be
like Maria!” she said in one video.

Lopez said in an e-mail to the Inquirer that she would “issue a public apology” for her
actions. “The end doesn’t justify the means but I needed to answer the call of nature
because I had been stuck in traffic for three hours. Sorry, but I’m only human.”

According to her, like hundreds of other motorists, she was caught in heavy traffic
around 6 p.m. on Saturday on the southbound lane of Edsa near SM Megamall.

Lopez said she asked an MMDA officer if she could use the Asean lane. “He said no
because I didn’t have a pass. But I argued that other vehicles—taxi cabs, buses and
motorcycles—had already entered the lane.”

She claimed the MMDA officer was even “smiling” at her as she pleaded with him.
“[Then] the MMDA officer left in the middle of our conversation because of the taxis
and buses behind me. This prompted me to remove the cones.”

“By the time I did it, the MMDA had allowed other vehicles to pass through the Asean
lane,” she said, adding that she was speaking out “to make the story complete.”

Transport and security officials have called her actions a “serious security breach.”

Interior department officer in charge Catalino Cuy, who heads the Asean committee on
security, peace and order, and emergency preparedness and response, criticized Lopez,
saying her actions not only put herself at risk but also the summit’s delegates.
“As a public figure, Lopez must be mindful of the impact of her actions. We tirelessly
remind the people that traffic rules are created to save lives and put order in the
management of traffic flow, especially now that we are hosting the Asean Summit. We
will not allow someone like her to simply put our plans to naught,” Cuy said in a
statement on Sunday.

The MMDA and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) have
already recommended to the Land Transportation Office (LTO) the “suspension or
cancelation” of Lopez’s license.

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Beauty queen

actress maria isabel Lopez Apollogized on Sanday, saying he was “only human” after
authorities end netizens criticized her four using the lane designate for Association of
Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit VIPs and delegates

However, she claim that a trappic enforcer of the metropolitan Manila Development
Authority (MMDA) give her and several motorists permmmmmmission to use the Asean
lane.

lopez complain of being singled out because of her Facebook post which, as of this
writing, had garnered over eleven thousand reactions, mostly negative, and shared
almost 10,000 times.

Her post came with 2 videos which showed her breezing through tra

ffic even as vehicles in the other lanes were practically at a standstill. “Asean lane, here I
come! Be like maria!” she say in one video.

Lopez say in an e-mail to the Inquirer that she would “issue a public apology” for her
actions. “the end doesn’t jastify the means bat I needed to answer the coll of nature
because I had been stuck in traffic for 3 hours. sorry, but I’m only human.”

According to Her, like hundreds of other motorists, she was caught in heavy traffic
around 6 p.m. on saturday on the south bound lane of edsa near SM Megamall.

lopez say she asked an MMDA officer if she could use the Asean lane. “he said no
because I didn’t have a pass. But I

argued that other vehicles—taxi cabs, buses and motorcycles—had already entered the
lane

She claimed the mmDA officer was even “smiling” at her as she pleaded him with.
“[Then] the MMDA owfficer leaves in the middle of our conservationtion because of the
of the taxis and buses behind me. this prompted me to remove the cones.”
“by the time I did it, the MMDA had allow other vehicles to past through the Asean
lane,” he said, adding that she was speeking out “to make the story complete.”

transport and security officials have called her actions a “serious security breach.”

Interior department officer in charge catalino Cuy, which heads the Asean committee on
security, peace and order, and emergency preparednessness and response, criticized
lopez, saying her actions not Only put

herself at risk BBBBbbut also the summit’s delegates.

“As a public figure, lopez mast be mindful the of impact her actions. we

tirelessly remind the people that traffic roles are created to save lives and put order in
the management of traffic flooooow, Especially now that we are hosting the Asean
summit. We will not

‘;’;allow some one like her to simply put our plans to naught,” Cuy said in a

statement on sunday.

The MMda and the land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory board (LTFRB) have
already recommended to the land Transportation Office (LTO) the “suspension or
cancelation” of lopez’s license.