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Lacson defends Duterte’s silence on Recto Bank collision incident


Senator Panfilo Lacson on Saturday came to the defense of President Rodrigo Duterte as the chief executive seemed to be silent on the "hit-and-run" incident in Recto Bank involving Chinese and Filipino fishing vessels.

Lacson said Duterte was just being cautious not to issue a statement on the incident as it might affect the relations between Philippines and China.

"If I know PRRD, he values friendship. Pero ako I'm sure he loves his country more... Kasi ito sensitive issue ito as far as the Philippine leadership or the presidency is concerned," the senator said in an interview on dwIZ.

"Sensitibo because sabi ko nga nakikipagkaibigan tayo sa China nang buong sinseridad," he said.

The President cannot make a strong statement against China such as what he did with Canada as this might affect the progressing relations between Manila and Beijing.

"Hindi siya agad magsasalita diyan unlike statement niya sa Canada dahil may kabastusan na binanggit ang Prime Minister ng Canada against him at the time. So yun medyo bara-bara. Pero ito para sa kanya sensitive ito kasi nagpapakita siya ng pakikipagkaibigan na sincere," Lacson said.

"I’m not being an apologist to PRRD pero yan ang nakikita kong dahilan kung bakit hindi siya nagsasalita. Dahil kumakalap siya ng kumpletong information tungkol dito," he said.

The senator, however, slammed China's claim that Chinese fishing boat Yuemaobinyu 42212 was "berthed" at the area when seven or eight Filipino fishing boats "besieged" it.

"Sabi ko nga ang story nila it doesn't make sense parang nakakainsulto sa intelligence ng mga Pilipino ang kanilang pinapalabas na explanation," Lacson said.

"So dapat gumawa muna sila ng maayos na script kung sila man ay walang plano na ilahad ang buong katotohanan. Gumawa sila ng script na kapanipaniwala, hindi yung parang nangiinsulto sila na tayong mga Pilipino ay bobo," he said. — MDM, GMA News

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