Protest vs. Turkey ‘aborted’ after Locsin meeting with Turkish envoy

Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. and Turkish Ambassador Artemiz Sümer have cleared up the misunderstanding that had the Filipino official considering a diplomatic protest against Turkey.

Locsin on Friday afternoon said on Twitter that he was going to file a diplomatic protest versus Turkey while considering a suit against officials of the Bangsamoro Administrative Region for Muslim Mindanao.

Sources said Locsin was upset by BARMM Chief Minister Al Haj Murad Enrahim's meeting with Turkish officials in Ankara from December 11 to 16.

"I met with Turkish Ambassador Artemiz Sümer to clear up the misunderstanding. We both agreed to continue to coordinate all engagements with BARMM together," Locsin said on Twitter.

"I reaffirmed to my good friend Ambassador Sümer that my affection for Turkey has only increased w/ the swift resolution of this issue," he added.

I met w/ Turkish Amb. Artemiz Sümer to clear up the misunderstanding. We both agreed to continue to coordinate all engagements with BARMM together. I reaffirmed to my good friend Amb. Sümer that my affection for Turkey has only increased w/ the swift resolution of this issue. pic.twitter.com/LgAenxVlUz

— Teddy Locsin Jr. (@teddyboylocsin) December 27, 2019

As regards the diplomatic protest, Locsin tweeted, "Aborted. Swift response from the Turkish ambassador. All cleared up."

On taking up the matter with the Inter-governmental Relations Mechanism of the BARMM, Locsin said, "There's nothing to clear up. A sovereign state has only one armed forces and one ministry of foreign affairs to handle all foreign matters.

BARMM spokesperson Naguib Sinarimbo said Murad's recent trip to Ankara was covered by a travel authority from Malacañang, the spokesperson for the BARMM said on Friday.

"It is also worth mentioning that the travel of the Chief Minister was upon the invitation of the Government of Turkey and the corresponding Travel Authority was issued by the Office of the President of the Philippines to the Chief Minister," Sinarimbo said.

"Further, in all of the meetings between the Chief Minister and representatives of the Government of Turkey,  the government of the Philippines was represented  by the Consul General," he added.

Sinarimbo said Locsin could have initially raised the issue with the Inter-governmental Relations Mechanism.

"The Bangsamoro Organic Law similarly provides for a venue to raise issues of this nature. The venue is the Inter-governmental Relations Body," Sinarimbo said.

"In fact, the IGRB, co-chaired by [Finace] Secretary [Carlos] Dominguez and Minister Iqbal held its first meeting in Davao City on Decemebr 16, 2019," he added. —NB, GMA News