Duterte advised to exercise restraint on sea row

LUCENA CITY, Philippines – Former presidents have advised the Duterte administration to exercise restraint on the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea) row following the issuance of an international arbitral court ruling that voided China’s expansive territorial claim.

President Duterte said he would take the advice of his predecessors and be cautious in handling the issue to avoid placing the lives of soldiers at risk.

“President (Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo) said caution. President (Joseph) Estrada said restraint. President (Benigno) Aquino (III) advised the same,” he told soldiers and policemen in Camp Guillermo Nakar here.

“During my watch, we will take it a bit slowly … Your life is not something I can just throw away,” the President told soldiers.

Earlier, former president Fidel Ramos had agreed to act as special envoy of the Philippines to the Chinese government.

Duterte, the four former presidents and other members of the National Security Council (NSC) met on Wednesday to tackle a host of issues, including the West Philippine Sea maritime dispute.

During the meeting, he thanked Aquino for initiating the case against China.

“He (Aquino) won for us the case. I told him ‘thank you very much for giving us the ace card,’” Duterte said.

He stressed the need to maintain the territorial integrity of the Philippines despite his administration’s readiness to talk to China about the dispute.

“Let Ramos navigate... maybe (there will be) final talks and we will face them and that’s the time we will be frank with each other,” the President said.

“This is our position. This is what we have, we will not go out of it. We will talk.”

In 2013, the Philippines challenged the legality of China’s territorial claim, calling it excessive and exaggerated. China claims almost 90 percent of the South China Sea but this is being contested by the Philippines, Malaysia, Vietnam, Brunei and Taiwan.

On July 12, The Hague-based Permanent Court of Arbitration ruled that China’s claim has no legal basis. China, however, has refused to recognize what it described as an “illegal” ruling.

Malacañang described last Wednesday’s NSC meeting as “an extraordinary show of goodwill and unity to discuss defense and security issues facing the nation.” 

“The tone was respectful and consultative,” presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella said. 

Productive meeting

Senators present at the NSC meeting lauded the President for inviting the four former presidents, all of whom provided valuable inputs.

Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III said the five-hour meeting was “very productive.”

“The four former presidents, with their experience and with the past inputs that they have accepted or obtained, they have wisdom,” he said.

Sen. Panfilo Lacson said the meeting had direction, substance, consensus and unity of purpose.

“The unprecedented presence of four former heads of state added to the luster of the occasion, but not without their own valuable input on what the country needs to do to advance our national interest in regard to the arbitral tribunal ruling on the West Philippine Sea issue, the peace talks and the fight against illegal drugs,” he said.

Senate Minority Leader Ralph Recto said he expects Duterte to convene more meetings like the NSC where he can gather ideas on governance and policy issues. – With Marvin Sy