PH open to talks with neighboring countries on fisheries accord

President Benigno Aquino III. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

CAVITE CITY, Philippines—The Philippines is open to talks of a fisheries agreement to its neighboring countries including Taiwan, President Benigno Aquino III said Tuesday, but with a caveat.
“Tapusin muna natin mga kasalukuyang issue (Let’s finish the current issue),” Aquino said in an interview with reporters after the Philippine Navy anniversary held here at Fort San Felipe on Tuesday.

The issue the President is referring to is about settling tensions with Taiwan after the shooting of a Taiwanese fisherman by the Philippine Coast Guard in northern Philippine waters early this month.

“Merong mga unang dayalogo tungkol d’yan pero may mga pinairal ngayon na mga limitasyon (There have been earlier dialogues about that but there are new limitations imposed),” he said.

“After this issue we will talk to every neighbor that we have to ensure peaceful and equally prosperous relationship with everybody,” Aquino added.