(Eagle News)– The government on Thursday said the decision to refuse European Union aid from now on was done to assert the country’s independence.
“(This) is to enable them (EU) not to interfere with our internal affairs,” Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea said in a text message to reporters on Thursday.
“We are supposed to be an independent nation,” he said.
Media reports quoted European Union Ambassador to the Philippines Franz Jessen as saying that refusing to accept monetary aid from the European bloc would mean the loss of about €250 million or $278.73 million worth of grants.
The decision comes days after China vowed to grant billions of dollars to the Philippines under its One Belt, One Road project.
In March, the European Parliament made a resolution demanding the immediate release of Senator Leila De Lima, and a probe into alleged extrajudicial killings in light of President Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs.
De Lima is detained at the Philippine National Police Custodial Center following her arrest in February.
The arrest was in connection with a drug-related case filed against her in Branch 204 of the Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court in connection with her alleged involvement in the illegal drug trading in the New Bilibid Prison when she was justice secretary.
She faces other drug-related cases in other branches.
The EU is expected to release on Thursday (May 18) an official statement announcing the end of the funding agreement.
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