27th AIPO assembly delegates praise Cebu

The 27th ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Organization assembly ended yesterday with the delegates expressing praises for Cebu.

AIPO's executive committee chairman Matias Defensor said the Cebu AIPO is very important because most significant issues like the Middle East conflict and maritime piracy were discussed and resolutions were passed.

Defensor said that the resolution sponsored by Indonesia regarding the Middle East conflict is very important because all East Asian countries depend on the Middle East for their oil.

"East Asian countries are affected by the conflict because our energy comes from this most troubled part of the world," he emphasized.

In that resolution, the assembly expressed support for the cessation of hostilities between Israel and Lebanon and urged Israel to withdraw all its forces from Lebanon and to immediately and unconditionally release all Lebanese and Palestinian detainees, particularly the Speaker and the members of the Parliament, Cabinet Ministers.

Likewise, Defensor said that the resolution on maritime piracy, which the Philippine delegation sponsored, is of utmost importance because most ASEAN member countries are surrounded by water and are vulnerable to piracy.

The assembly expressed concern that piracy and armed robbery against ships at sea and the potential terrorists attacks on vulnerable sealanes continue to threaten the growth of the region and disrupt the stability of global commerce.

With this, it was resolved to adopt a strict and effective implementation of relevant national, regional and international laws, instruments, recommendations and guidelines for the suppression of piracy and armed robbery against ships at sea and affirm responsibility to persecute acts and foster bilateral and multilateral maritime cooperation among member countries.

Meanwhile, during a luncheon hosted by Senate President Manuel Villar and his wife Cynthia at the Casino Español, Cebu First District Rep. Eduardo Gullas said he met several legislators from ASEAN-member countries who commended the Cebu AIPO.

Gullas said he heard feedback that the Cebu AIPO is well organized and all the meetings were on high levels, describing the whole activity as one of the best AIPO meetings.

Delegates from different Asian countries congratulated Cebu South District Rep. Antonio Cuenco, who headed the host organization, as well as Rep. Raul del Mar (Cebu North District) and AIPO's secretary general.

Gullas was elected as president of the 3rd AIPO in 1976, and signed the Constitution of AIPO on behalf of the Philippines.

Deputy House Speaker Del Mar, who delivered the closing message on behalf of Speaker Jose de Venecia, said that "the Cebuano hospitality -and those of the entire Philippine delegation- has been sincerely extended, and it comes from the heart."

Del Mar also took the opportunity to invite the delegates to return to Cebu and enjoy its tourist attractions, particularly its world-class beach resorts.

The 27th AIPO yesterday ended with the signing of a joint communiqué by the eight-member heads of ASEAN embodying the new initiatives and changes approved during De Venecia's presidency of the AIPO.

During the assembly, some 300 delegates discussed and approved resolutions on fighting terrorism through inter-faith dialogues, expanding trade and investment opportunities in the region, and transforming AIPO into an assembly to align to the objective of building a caring and sharing community in Southeast Asia. - Wenna A. Berondo/BRP