Alunan eyed as special envoy to China if Ramos declines post

Former Interior and Local Government Secretary Rafael Alunan. PHOTO FROM ALUNAN’S FACEBOOK PAGE

President Rodrigo Duterte is eyeing Rafael Alunan as the Philippines’ special envoy to China in the wake of an international court’s ruling recognizing the Philippines’ maritime claims over the West Philippine Sea.

This is if former President Fidel Ramos declines his earlier offer to head the country’s negotiations with China.

“Kung magsabi si President Ramos na ‘di na niya kaya, I’ll appoint Alunan, mahusay ‘yon. Reserba ‘yan, he’s a colonel in the reserve force. ‘Yun na lang ang pampalit. He knows his business,” Duterte said in his speech before members of the 6th Infantry Division in Maguindanao.

Alunan served as the interior secretary during the term of Ramos. He ran for senator but lost in the May 2016 election.

During the testimonial dinner held in his honor at Club Filipino in Greenhills, San Juan City, Duterte said he wanted Ramos to head the country’s negotiations with China.

READ: Duterte asks FVR to head negotiations with China, says ‘war not an option’

“I would like to respectfully ask (Ramos) to go to China and start the talks,” the President said.

But Ramos said he was still undecided whether he would accept the offer considering his age and medical condition./rga

READ: FVR still undecided on offer to be special envoy to China