Excellencies,

Distinguished colleagues,

We stand in solidarity with the countries of Africa, which have suffered from the specter of terrorism.  The Sahel region and its people, in particular, suffering from its dramatic rise, compounded by complex and systemic drivers, including external interventions, geopolitical competition, pastoral conflict, and geopolitical developments.

As a developing state that has experienced its share of terrorism, the Philippines understands the value of country-led and country-owned solutions in setting out practical steps and mechanisms to address gaps and priorities to enhance the collective response to terrorism and mobilize international support.
We are pleased to have supported the High Level Meeting on Terrorism in Nigeria this year.

At the meeting, we shared our national experience in resolving the root causes of terrorism – which has happened over time.

The Philippines has adopted measures not only to counter and prevent terrorism, radicalization, and violent extremism, but also to ensure that victims, as well as the families of the victims, are able to find justice through a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach.

Through landmark national legislation, we were able to strengthen the capacities of our institutions to prevent and combat terrorism.

We are guided by the Philippine Development Plan to pursue an inclusive, transparent, people-centered, and human rights-based peace and security policy. It also guides our outlook on cooperation with international partners.

Last year, Under-Secretary-General Vladimir Voronkov, with Ambassador and Antonio Lagdameo as witness for the Philippine government, signed, on behalf of UN Office of Counter-Terrorism, the Philippines-United Nations Cooperation Framework, in a ceremony in his office,

The Cooperation Framework is among the new frameworks inked under the reformed UN development system which involves a broad repositioning of the system to help countries around the world achieve the SDGs.

This comprehensive approach which deepens, expands and elevates the partnership between the Philippines and the UN, setting out the areas of cooperation between the Philippines and the UN from 2024 to 2028 – consistent with principles of consent, co-ownership, transparency and accountability for UN country programmes – and providing strategic direction for joint PH-UN activities, including those within UNOCT’s mandate. We are ready to share our discussions in forging such a cooperation framework.

Moving forward, the Philippines looks forward to engaging with partners, at the national, regional and international levels, in efforts to strengthen international cooperation to prevent and combat terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.

Thank you.  END