President Rodrigo Duterte (left) and former President Fidel V. Ramos, during a Cabinet meeting in Malacañang in August. —FILE MALACAÑANGPHOTO
Malacañang on Tuesday said it would be up to President Rodrigo Duterte to accept former President Fidel V. Ramos’ resignation as the administration’s special envoy to China.
“According to FVR, the letter has been submitted to the office of the Executive Secretary, but it will be up to PRRD, whether to accept it or not,” Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella said in a text message to reporters.
On Monday, Ramos said he had resigned as special envoy, a post he accepted only last July.
READ: Fidel Ramos quits as special envoy to China
Ramos’ appointment came in the wake of the July 12 ruling of the United Nations-backed arbitral tribunal in The Hague favoring the Philippines’ claim over the West Philippine Sea in the South China Sea.
The former President, whom Duterte had acknowledged as the one convincing him to run, has criticized Duterte and his Cabinet in a series of strongly worded opinion pieces in the Manila Bulletin.
Ramos has voiced his opposition to Duterte’s “separation” and profanity-laden tirades against the United States, a long-time ally of the Philippines.
The former Chief Executive also hit Duterte for his refusal to accept the Paris climate change pact reached in December 2015.
Ramos even likened the Philippines to a “sinking ship” under Duterte’s leadership.
In a statement, Communications Secretary Martin Andanar said Ramos’ “presence is invaluable.”
“PFVR was appointed by PRRD as Special Envoy precisely because of his stature, credibility as our elderly statesman, and his ability to break the ice with the Chinese Government,” Andanar said.
He said Ramos played a vital role in the “softening of ties” between the Philippines and the People’s Republic of China (PROC).
“PFVR was instrumental in the softening of ties between our government and the PROC, which led to the very successful recent State Visit of PRRD in Beijing,” he said.
In a separate statement on Monday, Andanar said Ramos’ “stature and expertise are needed now, more than ever, to follow up and [build] on what President Duterte accomplished during his recent visit to China.”
“Moreover, it is not true that the former President can no longer have any role in our engagement with China,” he said.
READ: Palace: We haven’t received FVR resignation letter
Duterte has yet to issue a statement on Ramos’ resignation. JE/rga