President Duterte on Thursday, March 17, reiterated that the Philippines is maintaining its "neutrality" on the ongoing hostilities between Russia and Ukraine that have affected the global economy.
"We better maintain our neutrality. Let us avoid meddling in it so that we won't get involved," Duterte said in Bisaya during his speech at the inauguration of the new Leyte Provincial Capitol in the town of Palo.
Duterte repeated his statement amid Russia's continuing invasion of Ukraine that started last Feb. 24 and drove prices of basic goods to increase, including petroleum pump prices.
"I won’t commit. If the Americans engage in a war and they’re here, why will I send my soldiers? It’s not our battle to fight. If the violence spills over and the war somehow gets here, that will be very difficult," the President said.
"I won’t, I really won’t. For as long as I’m President, I won’t send a single soldier of mine to go to war. Hindi natin away 'yan. Huwag tayong makialam (That's not our fight. Let's not get involved)," he added.
Duterte made a similar statement during his speech in Narvacan, Ilocos Sur last March 4. However, he added that someday, the country will have to choose which side we will be on.
He also said that he is keeping his fingers crossed that the situation will not get worse because it will affect the entire world.
"I just pray to God that this will not really go out of control," he said.
Malacañang earlier stated that it joins the rest of the world in praying for an “early and peaceful” resolution to the conflict in Ukraine, especially since the world is still reeling from the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Palace has also laid the country's plans on weathering the effects of the ongoing conflict.