Enrile, Duterte to discuss role of Trillanes, del Rosario on Scarborough shoal issue — Palace

MANILA, Philippines — Former Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile will discuss with President Rodrigo Duterte the roles of former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV and former Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert Del Rosario that led to the Chinese occupation of Scarborough Shoal (Bajo de Masinloc), among other maritime issues on the West Philippine Sea.

Presidentials spokesperson Harry Roque said that Enrile has agreed to heed the request of Duterte to speak on the matter during his Talk to the People public address on Monday night.

“Mamayang gabi ay magiging panauhin si dating Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile sa ‘Talk to the People,’” presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said in a Palace briefing.

(Later tonight, former Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile will join the ‘Talk to the People.’)

“Sabi nga ng Pangulo, former Senator Enrile was there right at the beginning. Kinakailangan nating pakinggan ang sasabihin ng dating senador dahil magandang malaman ang papel ni dating senador Antonio Trillanes at dating Secretary Albert del Rosario sa usaping pagkawala ng Scarborough Shoal sa Pilipinas,” he added.

(The President said that former Senator Enrile was right there at the beginning. We should listen to what Enrile has to say because we should know the role of former senator Trillanes and former Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario in the loss of the Scarborough Shoal.)

Duterte earlier invited Enrile, a former defense minister and a lawyer, to join his meeting with other Cabinet officials to discuss maritime issues with China.

In September 2012, the Philippine Daily Inquirer came out with an exclusive that Trillanes had served as as a backchannel negotiator to China during the term of Duterte’s predecessor, former President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino, an allegation that Trillanes did not directly confirm or deny.

The supposed backchanneling, however, did not sit well with del Rosario as it supposedly did “more harm than good.”

Subsequently, on the Senate floor, Enrile accused Trillanes of working for China, disclosing notes written by then Philippine Ambassador to China Sonia Brady that he said showed Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV was working for Beijing in the dispute between the Philippines and China over Scarborough Shoal.

EDV