An opposition lawmaker believed Thursday that President Rodrigo Duterte skipped events in the 33rd Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Summit in Singapore to merely evade criticisms from other claimants of the West Philippine Sea (WPS) amid his apparent “pro-China” stance.
“Sayang lang ang pondo ng bayan sa isang sleeping president. Hindi nya minaximize ang pagkakataon upang makausap ang mga lider ng mga bansa kaugnay ng mga problema ng ating bansa,” ACT Teachers Rep. France Castro said in a statement.
“Umiiwas ba sya na masingil sya ng mga bansang nag-aagawan sa WPS sa kanyang pagiging maamong tupa ng Tsina?” she also asked, as she demanded a report on the gains of the Philippines from the summit.
In a separate press briefing, Castro added: “Napakatagal naman yatang power nap nun eh… Dun pa siya natulog. Dapat ‘di na lang siya pumunta sa Asean meeting, sana nag-stay na lang siya dito sa bansa natin baka mas may kabuluhan pa ‘yung magagawa niya rito.”
Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo earlier said the President did not attend several Asean events in the Lion City to take “power naps.”
READ: Duterte skips 4 events but attends 4 others | Duterte on absence from Asean events: What’s wrong with my nap?
Magdalo Rep. Gary Alejano, meanwhile, said Duterte’s absence shows his “disinterest in engaging with our Asean neighbors” and his lack of “enthusiasm and camaraderie to our neighbor countries and the rest of the international community.”
Alejano then renewed his call for the Palace to release Duterte’s medical bulletin.
“In international events, the President must make sure that he is able to represent the country with a sound body and mind. If something ails him so much that he is unable to exercise his duties as President, he must seek immediate medical attention,” the lawmaker said.
“Sa mga pagkakataong ito mas nabibigyang-diin ang ating panawagan na maglabas ang Malacañang ng medical bulletin hinggil sa kalagayan ng kalusugan ng Pangulo,” he added.
Kabataan Rep. Sarah Elago, for her part, said “there might be a graver reason” behind Duterte’s absence, which she stressed Malacañang needs to disclose.
As for Gabriela Rep. Arlene Brosas, this could be a “dereliction of duty” on the part of the Chief Executive. /kga