NAIA Terminal 2, Pasay City
20 November 2012

The Philippine Airlines chartered flight bearing President Benigno S. Aquino III touched down in Manila past 11 p.m at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport II in Pasay City.  The Chief Executive came from Phnom Penh, Cambodia after participating in the 21st Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit and Related Summits from November 17-20.

In his message, President Aquino stated that what stood out above all the accomplishments attained by the Philippine government during the ASEAN Summit is the declaration of the country’s position over maritime relations.

“Naiparating po natin sa lahat ng panig ang ating mga paninindigan nang may hinahon, dangal, at katuwiran. Sa huli, hindi lang pagpapahayag ang nagawa po natin; napasang-ayon pa natin ang hindi bababa sa limang bansa sa ating mga paninindigan,” he said.

The President explained that he insisted in creating a transparent and definite Code of Conduct that will support the Declaration of Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC). DOC was established to avoid the maritime tensions in the region which happened between China and Vietnam on the Paracel Islands in 1974, and between the Philippines and China on the Mischief Reef in 1995 as well as on the West Philippine Sea.

He said that because of the Philippines’ stand, many countries now agree that formal talks regarding the Code of Conduct must be started to avoid tensions in the future.

“Nakikiisa sila sa ating mga paniniwala: Kailangan ng kapanatagan, katahimikan, at malayang paglalakbay at kalakalan sa mga dagat ng rehiyon. Walang mabuting idudulot ang banta ng karahasan,” he added.

President Aquino also reported that fruitful talks about the economy, trade, human rights, and people-to-people ties between Filipinos and other nationalities were among the nation’s achievements upon meeting the leaders of China, Japan, South Korea, America, India and other Heads of State/Government in the summit.

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