Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque (File photo/Malacañang)
Roque said he was prepared to debate not only with former Supreme Court Justice Antonio Carpio but also former Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario on the issues surrounding the territorial conflict.
President Duterte earlier backed out of the debate challenge he made to Carpio for a number of reasons, including having doubts it would benefit the nation and invoking executive privilege on matters affecting government policies. Roque will instead take the place of the President in the debate.
“Kung gusto po ninyo two versus one, kayong dalawa po ni Justice Carpio at kayo po Secretary Albert Del Rosario didebatehin ko po kayong dalawa, pero dapat kaparehong oras, bagama’t dalawa po kayong magdidebate okay lang po sa akin iyan (If you want two versus one, I will debate with both Justice Carpio and Secretary Albert del Rosario but we must have equal time. It’s okay with me if I debate with the two),” Roque sai
President Rodrigo Duterte (File photo/Malacañang)
Presidential spokesman Harry Roque has raised the possibility of the Duterte-Carpio debate by June 2022 after the President backed out of the debate with the former magistrate upon the advice of his Cabinet.
“Much as President Rodrigo Roa Duterte wanted to debate with Mr. Antonio Carpio, the Chief Executive heeded the advice of the Cabinet and decided to designate his Spokesperson instead,” Roque said in a statement Friday night, May 7.
“Debating with Carpio is a demotion. A realization. This after the former Supreme Court justice expressed so much excitement. But perhaps come June 2022, we can have one,” he added.
Published May 6, 2021, 6:13 PM
President Duterte may have spewed defeatist and appeasing statements towards China but Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said the country’s Commander-In-Chief has been firm in its stand to assert Philippine sovereignty in the South China Sea.
That is according to Lorenzana, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) will not stop conducting maritime patrols in the West Philippine Sea and the Kalayaan Island Group.
“As I said in my previous statement, the President’s orders have been firm and straightforward: we defend what is rightfully ours without going to war and maintain the peace in the seas,” said Lorenzana.
Sotto expects friendly talk with Chinese envoy on West PH Sea
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Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 12) Senate President Vicente Tito Sotto III is looking forward to an informal meeting with Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian next week to discuss issues in the West Philippine Sea.
Speaking to Senate reporters on Thursday, Sotto said a friend, whom he did not name, invited him to an event on Tuesday, May 11, which will also be attended by Huang.
When asked if they will talk about the continued presence of Chinese vessels in the West Philippine Sea, Sotto said he s certain the matter will be discussed.
President Duterte delivers a televised address on May 5, 2021 (Malacañang)
In a televised address Wednesday, the President threatened to execute “by hanging” former Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario, saying the latter must be investigated and held accountable for the pullout of the country’s ships from Panatag Shoal in 2012.
The country withdrew its two ships from Panatag shoal in June 2012 reportedly upon the United States intervention in a bid to end the tensions. China however supposedly did not leave the area and effectively took control of the territory then.
“Ikaw Albert, Alberto, bakit mo pinaatras? Kaninong permission ka nanghingi? Ngayon kung wala kang maibigay, p i mo, huwag mong ibigay sa akin ‘yong kasalanan mo. Naghahanap kayo ng libre. Alam ninyo one day, one day you will be tasked to answer for that iyang pag-order ninyo, dapat imbestigahin ka (Albert, why did you order the pullout? Whose permission did you ask? Now if you can’t explai