Smuggler's fate overshadows Joko Widodo visit to Philippines
PUBLISHED : Monday, 09 February, 2015, 5:30am
UPDATED : Monday, 09 February, 2015, 5:30am
Agence France-Presse in Manila
Joko Widodo (right) is met by Philippine Vice President Jejomar Binay. Photo: AP
New Indonesian President Joko Widodo arrived on his first state visit to the Philippines yesterday, as the fate of a Filipino facing execution for drug smuggling in his country hovers over planned talks.
Widodo, on the last stop of a three-nation trip after visiting Malaysia and Brunei, would meet with Philippine President Benigno Aquino today with the pair expected to sign several agreements, the presidential palace in Manila said.
However, his visit comes as the Philippines tries to prevent the execution of a female national facing death by firing squad in Indonesia after being convicted of smuggling heroin.
Aquino spokesman Edwin Lacierda said the leaders would discuss drug trafficking but did not say if they would address the case of the woman, who has not been publicly named.
"We are in discussions to further work out cooperation in various areas of mutual interest and concerns, such as migrant workers ... and the combating of trafficking of narcotics," hesaid.
China was also likely to be on the agenda, analysts say, with Indonesia regarded as having a potentially pivotal role in calming rising tensions between Manila and Beijing over territorial disputes in the South China Sea.
In August, then-president-elect Widodo told Japan's Asahi newspaper that Indonesia stood ready to act as an intermediary. "Indonesia has the gravitas to be the champion of peace in the Asean [Association of South East Asian Nations]. Widodo can also be our partner in our efforts to improve relations with China," Wilfrido Villacorta, a former ambassador to Asean, said.
The Philippines signed a maritime border accord with Indonesia last May that has been hailed as a model for peacefully settling territorial disputes.
