Confusion over Duterte-Xi ‘verbal agreement’

The news item “Palace ‘like a headless chicken’ on West Philippine Sea issue — Carpio” (4/25/21) gave the Filipino people a laughable scenario, were it not so painfully tragic, about how the Duterte administration is dealing with issues relating to the West Philippine Sea. President Duterte’s sheer incompetence has created so much confusion even among the “bright boys” around him.

Regarding Mr. Duterte’s “verbal agreement” with Chinese President Xi Jinping that opened Philippine seas to Chinese fisher-

men, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque, the resident Pinocchio in the Palace, did what he does best and tried to cover it up: No such agreement. Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. intimated there might have been such an agreement, but it would be unenforceable if only verbal. Mr. Duterte’s chief legal counsel, Salvador Panelo, not one to be out-talked, said the agreement, even if “verbal,” is binding.

As usual, the President himself seemed totally unmindful of what the fuss is all about. Either he doesn’t care what anybody thinks, or he doesn’t understand what the problem is. From all appearances, all he cares about is how not to displease President Xi. Given the hundreds of Chinese “fishing vessels” entering our seas and refusing to leave despite Locsin’s numerous protests, is there really any doubt about Mr. Duterte’s disloyalty to our country?

When will Filipinos ever wake up from this nightmare?

MELISSA SY-QUIATAN
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