Palace on ‘assembly’ of western nations at disputed waters: Just teasing

Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo. INQUIRER file photo / JOAN BONDOC

MANILA, Philippines—President Rodrigo Duterte was just goading the United States, Great Britain, and France when he challenged the western nations to join the Philippines in going to the West Philippine Sea and make a stand against China, Malacañang said Thursday.

Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo issued the clarification a day after Duterte said the western nations should help the Philippines claim its territories in the disputed waters if they are brave enough to provoke the Asian powerhouse.

“Sa tingin ko doon nangangantiyaw siya [I think he was just teasing right there],” Panelo said in a Palace briefing.

“Masyado kayong maraming sinasabi ngayon, samantalang noon kaya niyong i-stop. ‘Yun ang punto ni Presidente doon [You are talking a lot these days, but before, you had the chance to stop. That is the point of the President],” he added.

Speaking before the anniversary of the Presidential Security Group, Duterte said: “Ito ang hamon ko, ang hamon ko sa America, Britain, France, mag-assemble tayo dito sa Palawan tapos diretso na tayo doon sa Spratly. Agawin na natin kung maagaw natin.”

(This is my challenge, my challenge to America, Britain, France, let’s assemble here in Palawan and head toward the Spratlys. Let’s grab it from them, if we can grab it.)

Duterte made the statement after critics lashed out at him for supposedly not putting up a stand for the 22 Filipino fishermen whose fishing boat was sunk and the fishermen abandoned by a Chinese vessel near the Recto Bank on June 9.

READ: Duterte: China can fish in Philippines’ EEZ

“Hindi ako sa hindi natatakot, kung gusto nila, sabi ko nga mag-imbita sila, kahit hindi naman talaga natin kaya ‘yang put, karami ng armas diyan ngayon,” Duterte said.

(It’s not that I’m not afraid, if they want as I said it, let them invite, eventhough we really can’t do it, it’s a lot of arms in there.)

“Sabay-sabay kami. Ako, si (US President Donald) Trump, diyan sa deck. Teleskopyo, malapit na tayo. ‘Pag sumabog tayong apat eh ‘di okay lang,” he continued.

(We’ll do it at the same time. Me, Trump, at the deck, telescope, we are near. If we all four explode, well that’s ok.)

The President has downplayed the incident in Recto Bank as a “little maritime accident.”

He also said the incident is not an attack on the Philippines’ sovereignty. (Editor: Jonathan P. Vicente)

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