Duterte to champion Pinoys’ interests in SoKor summit

Credit to Author: Tempo Desk| Date: Wed, 20 Nov 2019 08:56:03 +0000

The interest of the Filipino nation will be championed and protected by President Duterte when he and other leaders discuss security concerns in a regional summit in South Korea next week.

As the regional issues such as the South China Sea dispute and the Korean Peninsula conflict will likely be tackled in the upcoming dialogue, the President assured the public that he would not commit to anything that would endanger the lives of Filipinos.

The President is scheduled to visit Busan, South Korea to attend the Association of Southeast Asian Nations-Korea commemorative summit slated from Nov. 25 to 26. Duterte said he would hold a bilateral meeting with President Moon as well as “pull-aside” talks with other leaders on the sidelines of the summit.

“Security matters. One, security talaga ‘yan. And it’s obvious. It is now the – the equilibrium of geopolitics. You know North Korea then the Spratly Islands. The South Koreans are also against the occupation of the South China Sea and the claim of China. This will be taken up because one day, when we decide to really go for it, it will be the Western powers plus Seoul, plus Tokyo, and Australia. Malaysia – I do not know if… I’m not sure of Malaysia if they’ll join the fray,” Duterte said during a press conference in Malacañang Tuesday night when asked about his agenda in his talks with the regional leaders.

“I will decide when the time comes. I will not make any guarantees because I said we do not have the even the firepower and I will never commit to something which will just you know massacre. Bahala kayo diyan. Tayo cover lang,” he said.

Duterte asserted that he “loves the Philippines” and would not do anything that will put the people’s lives at risk.

“Karamihan security. I said if it is to the interest of the Republic that I will commit to any – then I will. But if it is not, I said, to the interest of the people of the Philippines, I will never commit to anything
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