Palace: No need to convene NSC over Recto Bank issue
Credit to Author: Tempo Desk| Date: Sat, 29 Jun 2019 09:35:30 +0000
Malacañang has said that it is not necessary for President Duterte to convene to the National Security Council over the Recto Bank incident early this month.
Presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo made the statement after Sen. Richard Gordon suggested that Duterte should talk to the NSC over the abandonment of the 22 Filipino fishermen after their fishing boat was reportedly hit by a Chinese vessel which immediately fled the scene. The Filipino fishermen were rescued by a Vietnamese vessel.
Panelo said the NSC should only be convened if the country is facing a crisis.
“Unang-una, iyon ay ginagawa mo lang iyon kung mayroong crisis. Wala naman tayong crisis eh. Ang gusto nga nila, magkaroon tayo ng crisis, iyong mga kritiko,” he said. “Kasi by pursuing their line of aggressive isolationist policy, eh talagang magkakaroon tayo ng crisis. Eh ngayon wala eh,” he added.
Panelo noted the good relationship between the Philippines and China. “Maganda nga ang usapan. Nakita mo, ang ganda ng trade relations natin; nadadala na natin sa pakiusapan through diplomatic channels,” he said.
He also said that Chinese President Xi Jinping’s warning of trouble to President Duterte in the disputed waters if the Philippines searches for oil is just a piece of friendly advice.
According to Panelo, Xi, perhaps, is just being practical. “Ako ang tingin ko, more on ano iyon, payong kaibigan,” he said.
“I think the Chinese President was being also practical. I don’t think he also wants that to happen; kaya nga he wants to avoid it also, which is the better way in dealing with problems or conflicts,” he added.
Panelo said that Xi admires Duterte, the reason why the Chinese leader is giving good advice to the Chief Executive. “Mr. Xi personally admires our President. Bilib talaga siya. So ang ginagawa niya, pinapayuhan niya, ‘Huwag na tayong pumasok diyan,’” he said.
“Siyempre iyong Presidente ng China, Presidente lang iyon pero magri-react iyong taumbayan niya, oh di mapupuwersa rin siya. Ayaw niya iyon,” he added. (Argyll Cyrus B. Geducos)