President Duterte invites Enrile to Malacañang to shed light on the West Philippine Sea issue.
President Rodrigo Duterte invited former Senator Juan Ponce Enrile to Malacañang to shed light on the West Philippine Sea issue.
In his Talk to the People briefing aired on government television Friday, President Duterte said that he had nothing but respect for Enrile, adding that he’s ready to listen to the views of the former lawmaker.
The President also extended the Palace invitation to Enrile for the next meeting with Cabinet members set on May 17, 2021.
“We have respectfully invited Senator Enrile to come here kasi hindi naman ako puwedeng makalabas na mag-usap. Pakinggan natin siya. Hindi na ako magsalita. Makikinig lang ako sa kanya. He was there right at the beginning, so sa kanya ako makinig, kasi sa kanya ako bilib sa utak at pagintindi nitong problema, itong ating West Philippine Sea,” President Duterte said.
READ ALSO | President Duterte To China: “May barko ako d’yan. I am not ready to withdraw”
President Duterte also expressed hope that the former senator would accept his invitation to discuss the West Philippine Sea issue as Enrile was one of the persons he respected.
Recently, Enrile issued a statement backing the peaceful approach of the Duterte administration to resolve the territorial conflict with China. Enrile lauded President Duterte’s move to address the matter peacefully instead of becoming antagonistic.
President Duterte had been under fire for the alleged soft approach towards China in the Philippines’ unresolved dispute in the West Philippine Sea.
The President had ruled out going to war with China over the territorial row while recognizing that the Philippines had a huge debt of gratitude to its “good friend” China.
President Duterte promised though that he wouldn’t compromise the Philippines’ sovereignty and sovereign rights in the West Philippine Sea despite China’s assistance to the Philippines — including the COVID-19 vaccines.
For more news and updates, you may feel free to visit this site more often. You may also visit Newspapers.ph via our official Facebook page and YouTube channel.