Packed week brings deals, deliverance

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. capped a diplomatically and politically charged week by clinching two long elusive milestones just days apart: a decade-long trade negotiation with the European Union and a humanitarian reprieve that had hung over three administrations.

The convergence of a hard-fought economic win abroad and an act of clemency at home offered a study in contrast, one opening a chapter on Manila’s global trade ambitions and the other closing a book on a Filipina’s 16-year ordeal.

21 September

Bulacan mystery tour

President Marcos checked government projects in Bulacan as the country commemorated the 54th anniversary of the declaration of martial law.

Malacañang, however, did not provide details of the inspection in the most flood-hit Philippine province.

22 September

Defining deal

The President spoke on the phone with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen with both sides describing the call, with varying degrees of enthusiasm, as the effective conclusion of free trade talks launched in 2015.

Von der Leyen declared on social media that the two sides had “just agreed” on a free trade deal, coming three years after her visit to Manila to relaunch the negotiations, while European Union (EU) officials cautioned the understanding was preliminary and that further negotiations were needed.

23 September

UPLIFT lifts oil price pain

Mr. Marcos reported a new round of fuel assistance under the Unified Package for Livelihoods, Industry, Food and Transport (UPLIFT) to provide relief to vulnerable sectors as the benchmark Brent crude hit $100 per barrel on 9 September, the first time the level was touched since July amid renewed US-Iran tensions.

According to the Palace, farmers and fisherfolk were the initial targets of the fresh UPLIFT assistance.

Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez said the administration was continuously looking for ways to mitigate the impact of rising global oil prices.

Quirino leader honored

The President visited the wake of the late Quirino Governor Dakila Carlo “Dax” Cua on Wednesday night at Heritage Memorial Park in Taguig City.

Marcos extended his condolences to Cua’s wife, Rep. Midy Cua of Quirino’s lone district, his family, and friends who honored the late governor’s life and his 25 years of dedicated public service. Cua passed away on 15 September at the age of 48.

24 September

Global links fortified

The President received the credentials of Dutch Ambassador Roderick Wols in a ceremony at Malacañang.

Ambassador Wols highlighted the strong 75-year relationship of the Philippines and Netherlands. He reaffirmed the Netherlands’ commitment to the international legal order, peaceful settlement of disputes, the rule of law, and the protection of human rights and freedoms.

The President expressed optimism for the strength of PH-Netherlands bilateral relations, anchored on a common maritime heritage and the shared values of democracy, human rights, and the rule of law.

Swiss connection

The President also received the credentials of Swiss Ambassador Edgard Cristoph Doerig, who cited the longstanding political and economic ties between the Philippines and Switzerland, as well as the historical links that have connected the two countries.

He cited national hero Jose Rizal’s stay in Switzerland, where Rizal translated Friedrich Schiller’s “William Tell” into Tagalog, helping to introduce concepts of freedom, civic responsibility, and self-determination to Filipinos.

25 September

District polls deferred

President Marcos signed the bill extending the terms of office of barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan officials effectively postponing their scheduled elections this year.

The Chief Executive signed into law the measure fixing the term of office of barangay and SK officials to five years, allowing incumbent officials to remain in office.

Republic Act 12326, or an Act Fixing the Term of Office of Barangay Officials and Members of the Sangguniang Kabataan to Five Years, amends Republic Act 12232, or An Act Setting the Term of Office of Barangay Officials and Members of the Sangguniang Kabataan, and For Other Purposes.

New beginning for Veloso

Capping the week, the President on Friday revealed he had granted convicted drug trafficker Mary Jane Veloso an absolute pardon.

While inspecting a provincial hospital in Eastern Samar, Marcos told reporters he had signed Veloso’s pardon papers the day before, ending her ordeal that began when she was arrested at the Indonesia airport in 2010 for heroin concealed in her luggage.

The pardon fully extinguished her criminal liability and restored her civil and political rights, marking the end of a nearly two-decade ordeal spanning three Philippine presidents and 14 years on Indonesia’s death row,

Taken altogether, last week’s developments underscored a President working on two very different registers — grinding multilateral diplomacy on one hand, and the singular exercise of granting executive clemency on the other.