Marcos to Duterte: No place for ad hominem attacks in important talks

WASHINGTON, D.C., United States — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is not paying attention to any of former president Rodrigo Duterte’s ad hominem attacks, saying that low levels of discourse have no place in important discussions.

Marcos was asked in a briefing with the Philippine media delegation on Friday afternoon (Eastern time) about Duterte’s claims that he was a crybaby for going to the United States (US) in the face of tensions in the South China Sea.

According to the President, he has not shed any tears about it and said he does not mind these insinuations.

“You know, to be a crybaby, you have to cry. Did you see me cry?” Marcos said jokingly. “I don’t pay any attention to that. I really don’t.  That means absolutely nothing to me.”

“And you know, again, the former president is a highly experienced lawyer.  He should know that ad hominem attacks like that really have no place in this kind of this very important and very precarious discussion.  They can say I’m ugly, then okay I’m ugly, but so what?  Right?  There is no place for such statements here, which are called ad hominem in law,” he added.

Despite the seemingly increasing rift between the past and present leaders, Marcos says he does not consider Duterte a political enemy.

“I don’t consider him a political enemy. It takes two to tango. I don’t consider him a political enemy,” he noted.

Earlier, Marcos asked Duterte to clarify what he has agreed to with China and what he compromised in a controversial gentleman’s agreement.  Also, the President said he prefers to call the agreement a secret deal because it was deliberately hidden from the public.

According to Marcos, Duterte and officials who served in his administration should clarify matters because it would explain why Chinese officials have been irritated with the Philippines’ actions over the West Philippine Sea (WPS).

In the second year of President Marcos’ term, China became increasingly aggressive over the WPS, particularly when the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) assisted in resupply missions to Ayungin Shoal where Filipino military troops are stationed.

READ: PH vessel sustains ‘heavy damage’ in Chinese coast guard attack

The soldiers there are manning BRP Sierra Madre, a Navy ship that was deliberately run aground at Ayungin Shoal in 1999.

Ayungin Shoal, which sits around 315 kilometers from the tip of Palawan, is well within the 370-kilometer exclusive economic zone of the country.

However, China believes the Philippines is illegally occupying the shoal by keeping BRP Sierra Madre on it. Roque said these aggressive actions may be brought about by the Marcos administration not adhering to the gentleman’s agreement.

China also claimed that a former Philippine president promised to remove BRP Sierra Madre from Ayungin, but President Marcos said he was not aware of such a deal.