Summit on WPS unlikely

(File Photo) Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque. IMAGE from the PCOO Facebook page

President Duterte is no longer interested in meeting with previous presidents to discuss the West Philippine Sea (WPS) issue, Malacañang said on Monday.

In an online press briefing from Dumaguete City, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said the “impression” he got from Mr. Duterte was that there was no more need to discuss the West Philippine Sea situation with former presidents Fidel Ramos, Joseph Estrada, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and Benigno Aquino III.

‘Balanced approach’

“That’s my impression because he (Duterte) said that he will no longer pay attention to critics and that he really respects the opinion of [former Senator] Juan Ponce Enrile on the West Philippine Sea issue. So my impression, he’s (Duterte) satisfied that his policy on the West Philippine Sea is correct and working,” Roque said.

Roque said the summit with the former presidents was considered before the President met with Enrile, who called for a “balanced approach” in addressing the issue.

Enrile had supported the President’s move to improve bilateral ties with China and de-emphasize the disputes without conceding the Philippines’ maritime claims.

Roque said Mr. Duterte “toyed with the idea” of the summit as an alternative to convening the National Security Council.

“But the President said, in the times [when he was Davao City mayor] that he was able to attend the National Security Council, nothing was resolved,” Roque recalled.

“It seemed that Mr. Enrile concurred that the President is pursuing the right policy on the West Philippine Sea, so there is no more urgency to talk about these things,“ he added. INQ