JPEPA talks continue to move forward, says Favila

Trade and Industry Secretary Peter B. Favila assures that the Philippines and Japan are still moving forward on concluding the Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement (JPEPA).

According to Favila, Japanese Trade Minister Toshihiro Nikai had informed him of Japan’s desire to conclude the JPEPA even though there is a pending petition before the Supreme Court for a "mandamus, prohibition and a temporary restraining order" against the conclusion of the JPEPA.

In fact, Favila said, an announcement on the status of the JPEPA will be made in a couple of weeks.

Most of the issues in the JPEPA, Favila said, have been resolved and parts of the agreement are already undergoing legal "scrubbing" by the Department of Justice.

The Executive Department, likewise, is already coordinating with the Senate on the ratification of agreement.

Civic groups led by Akbayan Citizen’s Action Party, Pambansang Katipunan ng mga Samahan sa Kanayunan, the Alliance of Progressive Labor and Representatives Lorenzo Tanada III, Etta Rosales, Rizza Hontiveros-Baraquel and Joel Villanueva had filed last month the petition for mandamus, prohibition and TRO with the QC RTC.

Among those named as respondents were Senior Trade Undersecretary Thomas Aquino, Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Edcel Custodio, Tariff Commission chairman Edgardo Abon and several other officials.

In their petition, the civic groups and lawmakers are asking the QC RTC to order the respondents to "provide the petitioners with the full text of the JPEPA including the Philippine and Japanese offers and all pertinent attachments and annexes."

Second, the petitioners are also asking the Court to order the respondents to "refrain from concluding the JPEPA negotiations, signing the JPEPA, and transmitting the same to the President until such full disclosure has been made to the petitioners."

Lastly, the petitioners are seeking a TRO and/or Writ of Preliminary Injunction enjoining the respondents from concluding the JPEPA negotiations, signing the JPEPA, and transmitting the same to the President.