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Duterte to Robredo, Lacson: Only president can decide on foreign affairs
President Rodrigo Duterte spelled out that only the president is empowered under the 1987 Constitution to decide on the country’s foreign relations.
Taking a dig at Vice President Leni Robredo and Senator Panfilo Lacson, Duterte advised the officials to take a look at the charter, which he said “provides that foreign relations or foreign policy is vested on the president alone.”
Robredo had said that Duterte’s earlier remarks seeking payment from the United States government for the continuation of the Visit Forces Agreement was akin to extortion
. Lacson also issued a similar statement on social media.“Kinakabahan ako if by chance mag-president ka.. . . If by unfortunate chance you become president, please study more, you need a refresher course in law,” Duterte said.
He also told Lacson to first consult a lawyer before making his social media posts.
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Military bases
In his weekly Cabinet briefing, Duterte said Robredo was not aware that the US is slowly rebuilding its bases in its former military hub in Subic, which he said could put the country in the center of conflict.
“Alam mo ba ma’am, as president do you know there are so many depot, maraming armas dito na nakalagay sa Pilipinas ang Amerika. Do you know they are slowly converting Subic into an American base,” Duterte said.
“Wala ka sigurong alam. These are things knows to us because I have reports and assessment given to me by the AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines), he added. “Ang unang tatamaan kung nagkagera ang Amerkano sa Pilipinas, alam mo, the meltdown will start in Palawan, it’s the province facing Spratly.”
The chief executive added: “In worst case scenario, kung may isang gago dyan na magpaputok ng rocket gulo na yan, and the Philippines will be drawn into the vortex of the conflict that is called war.”
“Pagkaalam ni Robredo, nothing’s wrong with America and the Philippines. Ikaw ma’am, I’m sorry to say you are not really qualified to run for president, you do not know your role in this government,” Duterte said.—LDF, GMA News