President Duterte on Friday said that he cannot just fight China over the territorial dispute in the West Philippine Sea no matter how hot-headed he is for the sake of about 400,000 Filipinos working and living there.
Duterte, speaking at the “Araw ng Pasasalamat sa OFWs” in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City, said he is cautious about the Chinese as they have been allowing Filipinos to work in their country.
“The huge population of China cannot cope up with the industrialization of the place. They want to produce more to make money, but they are short of workers,” he said.
“This is why they are liberal in allowing the entry of our countrymen and that would explain to you the reason why na ako dahan-dahan lang na makipag-ano sa kanila because marami na ang Pilipino sa China. Almost like 400,000,” he added.
Duterte added that he might have an aggressive side but he cannot just pick a fight with China or any other country because this might put the welfare of Filipinos at stake.
“Itong mga politikong iba, gusto awayin ko. You know, ako okay lang. Palaaway man ako. Pero you know, I have to think of Filipinos everywhere. In every country na may Pilipino, talagang pigil ako,” he said. “Mainitin ang ulo ko pero ‘pag magdating diyan, kalma lang ako because there are so many Filipinos going abroad,” he added.
Presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo earlier in the day defended the President’s policy on China anew, saying it is not cowardice as Duterte is only thinking of protecting the Filipino people. “The President is not subservient to China, he is subservient to the interest of the Filipino people. The President is precisely enforcing that provision on protecting and serving the people,” he said. (Argyll Geducos)
