Duterte Thanks Aquino for Helping PH Win Case against China

Incumbent president Rodrigo Duterte is against finger-pointing – a stark contrast to what his predecessor, former Pres. Benigno Aquino III had been doing during his term when he often shifted the blame towards his own predecessor, former Pres. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. And Duterte has proven that he’s actually quite ready to do the opposite; to give credit where credit is due – even if it meant publicly acknowledging what his predecessor had done for the country!

That is exactly what happened when, during the meeting for the National Security Council (NSC) last Wednesday, July 27, Duterte thanked Aquino for giving the Philippines its ‘ace card’ against China.

Speaking with soldiers in Camp Nakar in Lucena City, Quezon, Pres. Duterte said, “Si President Aquino, he won for us the case kaya ako nagsabi, ‘Maraming salamat po for giving us the ace card.’ It was he who filed, it was upon his instructions (President Aquino, he won for us the case, so I said, ‘Thank you for giving us the ace card.’ It was he who filed, it was upon his instructions).”

Photo credit: The Philippine Star

Photo credit: The Philippine Star

Duterte, as president, automatically chairs the NSC while all former presidents are automatic members. He had convened the council last Wednesday to seek counsel on how to proceed now that the Philippines had won the case against China before the arbitral tribunal.

For her part, Arroyo told Duterte to “proceed with caution”, a sound advice which was a bit opposite from her previous stance (during her term) of befriending China in exchange for developmental funds. Former President Joseph Estrada told Duterte to “proceed with restraint”.

Meanwhile, former President Fidel Ramos had previously been designated as Duterte’s envoy to Beijing in seeking bilateral talks with China regarding the issue; though he had instructions to “avoid confrontation” with the Chinese government.

What is the US’ stand on the West Philippine Sea dispute?

US Secretary of State John Kerry reiterated the country’s support with the Philippines. The Us also supports the bilateral talks between the disputing countries as long as “they are based on the ruling which the western power considers final and legally-binding”.

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