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Cayetano hits VP Robredo for 'double standard' remark on Kuwait row


Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano on Saturday slammed Vice President Leni Robredo for apparently making "double standard" comments about the Philippine government's actions in the diplomatic row with Kuwait.

Cayetano reacted to Robredo's statement that there must be an "honest and candid acknowledgment of the crisis and willingness to accept accountability" to ease the  diplomatic tension between the two countries.  

"I'd like to assure Vice President Robredo that we are accountable. We are accountable to the President, we are accountable to the people, we are accountable to God," Cayetano told reporters in an ambush interview.

"Having said that, hindi pwedeng may double standard," he added.

Cayetano claimed that Robredo, in her statement, is criticizing the Philippine government for violating the sovereignty of Kuwait in their rescue missions that have been caught on video.

"Pinipintasan niya [na] we did violate their sovereignty? Hindi ba yung mga foreigner na nagra-rally dito, bina-violate yung sovereignty natin kasi bawal yun. But sabi nila, pwede," he said.

Cayetano was referring to Australian missionary Sister Patricia Fox, who was ordered to leave the Philippines for allegedly violating the conditions of her stay by engaging in political activities and anti-government demonstrations.

"Kapag tayo may nag-video, [mali] pero bakit siya, si Vice President Leni, nagpadala ng video sa UN na fake news, na paninira sa sariling bansa?" he added.

This time, Cayetano was referring to Robredo's recorded speech on the alleged "palit-ulo" scheme being carried out in urban poor areas in Metro Manila as part of the government's war on drugs.

The video, posted on YouTube, was played at the "Human Rights Challenge: Responding to Extrajudicial Killings in the Drug War," a side session organized for the 60th United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs annual meeting held in March 2017.

Robredo drew flak from the video, especially from administration supporters, claiming that the Vice President had tarnished the reputation of the country before the international community.

Cayetano reminded critics to allow negotiations to pursue before making comments.

"Sundin niyo yung worldwide protocol na kapag may mga pinagdadaanan ang isang bansa and its diplomatic negotiations, tapusin nyo muna ang mga negosasyon para safe lahat ng mga kababayan, and then lahat na ng pintasan, lahat na ng imbestigasyon," Cayetano said.

"E, gusto niyo mag-imbestiga sa gitna ng pag-uusap, e di mawi-weaken yung ating position or ma-endanger yung ating ibang tinutulungan," he added.

Also, Cayetano called on critics to be fair and avoid double standards.

He said that while the rescue operation yielded bad results, its intentions were good nonetheless.

"Pero 'wag naman tayong double standard. Pwedeng magpadala ng video [sa UN], tapos kapag foreigner pwedeng makialam sa Pilipinas, tapos tayo, sarili nating national [ang nag-rescue], sasabihin ninyo, masama ang ginawa namin?" Cayetano said.

"What we did was a misunderstanding, but what we did was our obligation and duty to our OFWs," he pointed out. —Erwin Colcol/LBG, GMA News

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