Palace: Duterte not inclined to summon China envoy over Recto Bank mishap

MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte is not inclined to invite Chinese Ambassador Zhao Jianhua to Malacañang over the sinking of a Filipino boat and the abandonment of 22 fishermen at Recto Bank by a Chinese vessel, Malacañang said Tuesday.

“The President, I think is not inclined to do that,” Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said in a Palace briefing.

“Based from his body language, he wants the facts to be established first,” he added.

Panelo’s statement came after the joint meeting of the Security, Justice, and Peace Cabinet Cluster and the Economic Development Cabinet Cluster.

Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol has said the clusters agreed to summon Zhao while Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said the Chinese envoy would be invited to Malacañang. (Editor: Julie Espinosa)