Malacañang said yesterday that President Duterte will not change his mind about finally raising the Hague ruling during his bilateral talk with Chinese President Xi Jinping next week.
Presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo made the statement after Duterte had said that China cannot control his mouth if he wants to talk about the arbitral ruling since he is the President of a sovereign nation.
Panelo said that when Duterte makes up his mind about something, he will push through with it.
“Kung ano yung sinabi ni Presidente ‘yun na ‘yun. Hindi na mababali ‘yun,” he said.
According to Panelo, it is now up to China how they will take the President’s statement on talking about the West Philippine Sea.
“Nasa China ‘yun kung ano ang kanilang reaction doon,” he said. “Hindi ba sabi ni Presidente, ‘Whether you like it or not, I’m sorry but I have to raise it.’ ‘Di ba? ‘Yun na ang decision niya eh. He will raise it,” he added.
Duterte will raise the Hague ruling in his meeting with Xi because he thought it was finally time to do it.
The Chief Executive said he will ask Xi about how the two countries would peacefully resolve the South China Sea dispute, adding that China cannot stop him from raising it with them.
“Sabi nila hindi pag-usapan. Sabi ko, ‘No,'” he said.
“If I’m not allowed as a President of a sovereign nation to talk whatever I want to talk about then let us not rather talk altogether. ‘Wag na. Do not control my mouth because that is a gift from God,” he added.
“So whether you like it or not, it will make you happy or not, angry or otherwise, I’m sorry. But we have to talk about the arbitral ruling,” he continued. (Argyll Geducos)
(Argyll Geducos)