Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque. FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang on Monday dismissed as “kalokohan” (nonsense) former Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert Del Rosario’s statement that ranking Chinese officials had a hand in electing President Rodrigo Duterte in 2016.
Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said this as he took a swipe against Del Rosario for being a “traitor” to the country for withdrawing Filipino ships during a 2012 standoff with China in Scarborough Shoal.
“Kalokohan po iyan coming from a proven traitor,” Roque said when sought to comment on Del Rosario’s statement.
(That’s nonsense coming from a proven traitor.)
READ: Del Rosario: China execs bragged they made Duterte president
“Siya po ang nagpaalis sa ating mga kasundaluhan sa Boro (Scarborough) na naging dahilan na ang Tsina na lang ang natira sa Boro,” he added.
(You’re the one who ordered soldiers to withdraw from Scarborough, so China was the one remained in Scarborough.)
During the 2012 standoff brokered by the United States, Del Rosario said the Philippines and China agreed to simultaneously pull out their ships from the area. He admitted the Philippines mistakenly believed China would keep its word and also withdraw their ships.
Roque enjoined lawyers to “study the legal liability of Albert del Rosario in ceding Scarborough Shoal to China.”
“Habang hindi ka makapagpakita ng teritoryo na binigay ng Presidente Duterte sa ibang bansa, manahimik ka diyan dahil eh ikaw nga ang may pananagutan diyan,” Roque went on.
(While you cannot show any territory lost under President Duterte, just keep silent because you’re the one who should be held liable here.)
Contrary to what critics say, Roque said the Duterte administration “done all that we could given the absence of an enforcement mechanism under international law” in the Philippines’ maritime dispute against China.
While the President asserted the country’s arbitral ruling victory before the Hague on some occasions, Duterte also said the Philippines will not “waste” its “best relations” with China amid issues over the West Philippine Sea.