'CIA agent'? Lorenzana says Duterte just joking | Inquirer News

‘CIA agent’? Lorenzana says Duterte just joking

By: - Reporter / @NCorralesINQ
/ 01:55 PM September 27, 2017

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana INQUIRER PHOTO/JOAN BONDOC

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana INQUIRER FILE PHOTO/JOAN BONDOC

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana on Wednesday said the remarks of President Rodrigo Duterte that he was “an agent of the United States” was merely a joke.

“That was meant to be just a joke-CIA agent daw (that I was a CIA agent),” Lorenzana said in a text message.

Article continues after this advertisement

His comment was sought after Duterte on Tuesday night said Lorenza was a US agent.

FEATURED STORIES

The President made the remarks during the 120th anniversary of the Department of Justice (DOJ) at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC).

“Matagal na ‘yan sa America. Alam ko siya e, agent ‘yan siya, pero okay lang (He’s long been with America. I know him, he’s an agent, but it’s okay with me),” he said.

Article continues after this advertisement

He even told Lorenza, who was at the stage when the President made the remarks, to relay to the US he was not against the superpower nation.

Article continues after this advertisement

“Sabi ko kasi magbolahan naman kaming dalawa, e di ito sabihin mo sa kanila, ‘Ako many issues ako diyan sa ano…but I do not hate America. Wala akong dynamics sa mga tao,’” the President said.

Article continues after this advertisement

(Since we are just flattering each other, I told him to relay this message, “I may have issues, but I do not hate America. I have no dynamics with its people.)

The defense chief explained why Duterte made such remarks.

Article continues after this advertisement

“He started saying that as early as when we started last year. Not only me but Sonny Dominguez, Jun Yasay and others. That was because I stayed in DC for 14 years from 2002-2016,” he said.

He said he worked as a diplomat at the US Embassy- first, as the Defense attaché and after retirement from the Army as Veterans attaché.

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Your subscription has been successful.

Subscribe to our daily newsletter

By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

“We at the cabinet do not take those remarks by the President seriously and neither should you,” he said. /idl

TAGS: CIA agent, Delfin Lorenzana, Rodrigo Duterte, United States

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Your subscription has been successful.

Subscribe to our newsletter!

By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

© Copyright 1997-2024 INQUIRER.net | All Rights Reserved

This is an information message

We use cookies to enhance your experience. By continuing, you agree to our use of cookies. Learn more here.