Pacquiao disagrees with Duterte’s assessment of his knowledge on foreign policy
Senator Manny Pacquiao on Wednesday disagreed with President Rodrigo Duterte’s assessment of his knowledge on foreign policy, asserting that his recent statement on the West Philippine Sea issue reflects the sentiments of the Filipino people.
“I respect the President’s opinion but humbly disagree with his assessment of my understanding of foreign policy. I am a Filipino voicing out what needs to be said in defense of what has been adjudicated as rightfully ours,” Pacquiao said in a statement.
Pacquiao also claimed that Duterte was “misinformed” about his statement where he tagged the President’s stance on China’s incursion in the WPS as “lacking.”
“I regret that the President was misinformed regarding my statement on the West Philippine Sea Issue. I firmly believe that my statement reflects the sentiment of majority of the Filipinos, that we should stand strong in protecting our sovereign rights while pursuing a peaceful and diplomatic solution to the dispute,” he said.
‘Shallow knowledge’
In an interview with Pastor Apollo Quiboloy in Davao City aired Tuesday night, Duterte hit Pacquiao over his recent criticism on the administration’s stand on the WPS issue.
“It’s about foreign policy. I would not want to degrade him but next time he should, mag-aral ka muna nang husto," Duterte said.
“Apparently this guy has a very shallow knowledge,” Duterte added.
In May, Pacquiao said he found the administration’s actions against China’s incursions lacking compared to what Duterte had promised during the 2016 campaign.
“Sa akin nakukulangan ako doon sa kumpara doon sa bago pa siya tumakbo, mage-eleksyon pa lang. Dapat ipagpatuloy n’ya ‘yun para magkaroon din ng respeto sa atin ang China,” Pacquiao said in an online interview with reporters.
He was referring to Duterte’s promise in 2016, saying he would personally go to the disputed area using a jet ski and plant a Philippine flag on the territory.
But Duterte, in his recent public address, said his 2016 statement was only a hyperbole.
Pacquiao is the acting president of the ruling party PDP-Laban while Duterte is the chairman.
The lawmaker is seeking a meeting with Duterte as the apparent intramurals in the party continue. — RSJ, GMA News