Ex-Pres. Duterte urged to reveal details of meeting with China’s Xi

Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte with Chinese President Xi Jinping. (File photo from a Twitter post by Hua Chunying)

MANILA, Philippines — Former Senate President Franklin Drilon on Friday asked former President Rodrigo Duterte to reveal the details of his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Drilon pointed out the Duterte-Xi talks came as Senate is drawing up a “strongly worded” resolution urging Philippine government to elevate to United Nations General Assembly concerns about China’s harassment of Philippine vessels in West Philippine Sea.

“Out of respect and courtesy to the sitting president, I call on former President Duterte to either disclose or, at the very least, provide a briefing to President Marcos or Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo,” Drilon said in a statement.

He underscored the need to be transparent and accountable about “the outcomes of such a significant meeting, especially if it involves the country’s claims on the West Philippine Sea.”

Drilon said Marcos should be “well-informed” about the meeting since the formulation of Philippines’ foreign policy is under his scope.

He noted the possibility that the former Philippine leader and the Chinese President may have discussed matters concerning national sovereignty.

If this happened, “the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) should be briefed on the details of the meeting, as it is not a matter of private concern, but one that affects the entire nation,” he said.

The former senator explained Duterte’s words and actions as a former chief of state “carry weight and may be interpreted in various ways, particularly by President Xi Jinping.”

“This is not a simple private visit. The former President is not an ordinary Filipino. His views will always be taken seriously by Xi Jinping,” he said.

The Duterte administration was known for having appeased China despite the Asian giant’s firm rejection of the 2016 ruling of the Permanent Court of Arbitration.

The Court had rejected Beijing’s sweeping claims in South China Sea, which overlap with Philippines’ exclusive economic zone.

Duterte had referred to the landmark decision as a “piece of paper” that can be thrown away.

There was, however, a pivot in this position since the Marcos administration took over.

Marcos is upholding the ruling, saying he would not “allow a single millimeter of our maritime coastal rights to be trampled upon.”

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