Palace: Duterte’s remarks on Xi pledge taken out of context

President Duterte was only saying he could rely on Asian allies when he said during a speech on Tuesday that Chinese President Xi Jinping would not allow his ouster from office.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said on Wednesday that President Duterte’s remarks were taken out of context.

“The President was just expressing his opinion,” Roque said in an interview with reporters, as he stated that there was actually no threat from the President’s enemies to oust him.

In a speech aboard a Philippine Navy vessel on Tuesday, the President said: “The assurances of Xi are very encouraging. ‘We will not allow you to be taken out from your office and we will not allow the Philippines to go to the dogs.’”

Critics reacted by saying Mr. Duterte should depend on the Filipino people, not on China, for his survival in office.

But Roque said President Duterte was aware of his strong support from Filipinos.

“So the context [of his statement] perhaps was that if there will be any attempt to oust him from his position, he can rely on his allies in Asia to help him,” Roque said. — CHRISTINE O. AVENDAÑO