Pres. Duterte Gives Message to Retired Justice Carpio
DUTERTE – Philippine President Rodrigo Roa Duterte broke his silence on backing out from a debate with retired Justice Antonio Carpio over the West Philippine Sea.
On the other side of good ties between the Philippines and China is a territorial dispute. Both countries have strong claims of ownership over the West Philippine Sea. It is going on for several years already and both countries are trying to make presence in the disputed islands.
The said territorial dispute has reached the arbitral tribunal. In 2016, it released a decision siding on the claims of the Philippines. However, the said verdict is not honored by China until now.
visit: Supreme Court Orders The Protection Of Reefs In West Philippine Sea
Many Filipinos are undeniably calling on Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte to take actions over the West Philippine Sea issue. As for the President, he did not promise anything about it. The issues led to a debate challenge between him and retired Chief Justice Antonio Carpio.
Carpio accepted the challenge. However, the Chief Executive did not push through with it and wants presidential spokesman Harry Roque to be his replacement in the debate – to which the retired Chief Justice does not agree with as he wants the President.
Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte recently broke his silence on backing out from a debate with retired Chief Justice Carpio. Based on a report on ABS-CBN News, the Chief Executive said that he forgot that he is the president and not the retired Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice.
According to Duterte, he backed out from the debate as anything he might say during the exchange of arguments “might bind future actions of the government” with regards to the West Philippine Sea. Based on the report, he also stressed that he is not afraid of debates.
“It’s not because I’m afraid of debates… Hindi ako takot sa’yo. Ang problema, hindi ko nga alam, hindi ka Presidente,” Pres. Duterte said addressing retired Chief Justice Carpio.
Currently, the people are still divided over the West Philippine Sea issue. Some push to assert the ownership while others believe that there is a bigger problem now – the COVID-19 pandemic.
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