Duterte using ‘measured tact’ to protect PHL sovereignty – Panelo

Malacañang on Tuesday again defended President Rodrigo Duterte from accusations that he was compromising the country’s sovereignty by his failure to "aggressively pursue" the Arbirtral Court's decision on the disputed South China Sea.

“The President as head of state, with only the well being and security of the Filipino people in mind and in his heart, believes that aggressively enforcing the arbitral award will only precipitate or trigger an armed conflict that could escalate into continuing bloody encounters detrimental to the national interest,” presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo said during a press briefing.

Panelo argued that this was the reason the President resorted to diplomatic negotiations “that may reap the desired windfall from the arbitral ruling.”

“If you remember before in the Scarborough, we could not fish; our fishermen were being driven away. But after that agreement with the President they’re not being molested,” he said.

He said the President’s "measured tact" was consistent with a provision in the Constitution stating that the Philippines renounced war as an instrument of national policy and adopted the generally accepted principles of law, of policy - peace, equality, justice, freedom, cooperation and amity with all nations as part of the law of the land.

“Now, they claim - the detractors and critics - that they’re not suggesting a war or they’re not suggesting a war as a form of resolution. Either they do not realize or they ignore the fact that as far as China is concerned, it has sovereignty over the entire South China Sea and any aggressive move by any country contrary to its claim of ownership is seen an assault to its sovereignty and will be repelled by force,” he said.

He said China has shown this when Vietnam, Malaysia, and other countries contested China's claim.

“So, we reiterate we remain steadfast in maintaining our claims with respect to our territory and exclusive economic zones. This is based on the command of the Constitution on the President to serve and to protect the Filipino people. In doing so, we shall maintain amity and friendly relations with all nations as directed by the Constitution as well,” he said. — DVM, GMA News