Malacañang has disclosed that China is not keen on having a third-party investigator to resolve the Recto Bank incident last month.
Presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said the Asian superpower instead suggested that Manila and Beijing form task forces which will later on meet to discuss the incident.
President Duterte had earlier suggested that it would be better to have a third-party investigator on the incident.
Panelo revealed that China said in a report that they do not agree to a third-party investigator on the incident.
“Ang sabi nila, di ba una nag-offer sila ng joint investigation. Tapos in-accept ni Presidente, tapos may third-paty. Ang sabi naman nila ‘wag na ‘yung third-party, kailangan tayo lang mag-usap doon,” he said.
“Feeling nila kung meron tayong mga separate investigation then let’s meet. Kailangan mag-create ka ng task force, sa ‘yo at sa amin, and then we exchange our findings. And then we decide kung ano ang gagawin na natin dito,” he added.
However, Panelo said that the Philippines would insist on having a third-party investigator if both countries have conflicting results.
“Eh ‘di siguro ipipilit na natin. Hindi na tayo nagkakasundo eh, mag-third party na tayo. Di ba?” he said.
“Kasi kung hindi tayo magkakatugma, paano mare-resolve? Some independent body, it doesn’t have to be a country, independent body,” he added.
Panelo said that for Duterte, it does not matter if there is a third party investigator as long as the matter gets resolved immediately.
“Wala siyang problema, okay lang sa kanya walang third party. Gusto mo maghiwalay tayo imbestigasyon, mag-share tayo, and then let’s resolve,” he said. (Argyll Geducos)
