DFA on Trillanes story: We’re faithful to the mandate to defend West Philippine Sea

Foreign Affairs secretary Alberto del Rosario. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Foreign Affairs on Thursday issued a statement that seeks to clarify a report that it was not doing its job regarding the West Philippine Sea dispute.

In a letter sent to the INQUIRER.net, Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario said they have “remained faithful to the President’s mandate to defend what is ours and to pursue a peaceful resolution on the West Philippine Sea, in accordance with the international law.”

In an article posted in the INQUIRER.net last week titled “It’s DFA’s fault, says Trillanes on Asean communiqué debacle,” Senator Antonio Trillanes IV said the DFA was “not doing [its] homework” which led to the failure of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) to issue a joint statement that would address recent territorial disputes in the West Philippine Sea.

“Many of us know for a fact that the good Senator is staying very close to the West Philippine Sea issue. He fully knows what is factual and what can be established and as a matter of record,” the letter read.

“The factual record would reflect otherwise,” it added.

Below is the full text of del Rosario’s letter:

26 July 2012

This refers to your 20 July 2012 news article on Inquirer.net entitled, “It’s DFA’s fault, says Trillanes, on Asean communiqué debacle which was written by [Mr.] Matikas Santos.

According to the article, Senator Antonio Trillanes IV said in an interview that the DFA should have “done its homework” before seeking help of ASEAN and that he referred to the DFA as “war freak.”

Many of us know for a fact that the good Senator is staying very close to the West Philippine Sea issue. He fully knows what is factual and what can be established as a matter of record.

The factual record would reflect otherwise.

The DFA has remained faithful to the President’s mandate to defend what is ours and  to pursue a peaceful resolution on the West Philippine Sea issue, in accordance with the international law.

Thank you very much for the opportunity to clarify this matter.

With my best regards , I remain:

Sgd

Albert F. del Rosario

Secretary of Foreign Affairs