ni Ronalyn Seminiano Reonico | May 18, 2021
Pinagbawalan ni Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte ang mga opisyal ng bansa na maglabas ng sariling pananaw tungkol sa sigalot sa West Philippine Sea (WPS) sa pagitan ng Pilipinas at China.
Pahayag ni P-Duterte, "So, this is my order now to the Cabinet and to all - all and sundry... talking for the government to refrain discussing West Philippine Sea with...anybody.
"If we have to talk, we talk and it would just be among us and there is one spokesman - (Presidential Spokesman) Secretary Harry (Roque) will do it. Now you get the picture."
Sa naganap naman na press briefing ni Roque, kinumpirma niya na tanging sila lamang ni Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. ang maaaring maglabas ng pahayag tungkol sa isyu sa WPS.
Aniya, "That’s the decision of the president... And as I said, it’s covered by traditional exception to freedom of information."
Madalas maglabas ng updates ang National Task Force (NTF) WPS tungkol sa presensiya ng mga barko ng China, kabilang na ang mga militia vessels sa WPS.
Nang matanong si Roque tungkol sa pag-a-update ng NTF-WPS, aniya, “Well, you know, reports of the NTF are forwarded to the DFA and they would determine if they will file diplomatic protest. So, these are matters, facts, which are relevant to diplomatic communications covered by executive privilege.
"So, although there is transparency, an exception to transparency are diplomatic communications and that includes also inputs which form the basis of diplomatic communication.”
Samantala, nilinaw naman ni P-Duterte na mananatili pa rin ang pagpapatrolya ng awtoridad sa WPS.
Aniya pa, “Our agencies have been directed to do what they must and should to protect and defend our nation’s interest.
“We will not waver in our position.”
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