简体中文
By APD writer Melo M. Acuña
MANILA, Feb. 15 (APD) – President Rodrigo Roa Duterte welcomes President Donald Trump’s remarks in reaction to the termination of the controversial Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA).
Presidential Legal Counsel and Presidential Spokesperson Salvador S. Panelo said President Duterte “is glad that the American President understands and respects President Duterte’s decision to end the VFA.”
It will be recalled President Trump was quoted saying that it was fine with him and will save them a lot of money “adding that his view on the matter is difference from others, apparently in reference to the statement of the US Secretary of National Defense (Mark Esper) who said that the abrogation of the VFA “is a step in the wrong direction.”
President Trump mentioned that he had a good relationship with President Duterte.
“In ceasing the effectivity of the VFA, President Duterte said the legislative and executive actions of the US government, as his raison d’être. The Chief Executive deemed such actions to be not only an offensive and blatant disrespect to the Philippine judicial system but an outright assault to the country’s sovereignty,” Secretary Panelo said.
He added being head of an aggrieved and insulted estate, and “as a matter of principle and national pride, being the head of an aggrieved and insulted State, President Duterte was compelled to take a bold, decisive and studied action.”
Secretary Panelo said if President Trump were a Filipino and the Philippine President, given his character and principled stand on a matter of national interest, he would have done exactly the same thing and would have given the same reaction.
President Duterte said President Trump’s circumspect and judicious reaction merits re-election because he is a good chief executive.
“By way of a gentle reminder, President Trump as an aside stated that the US helped the Philippines in crushing the ISIS terrorists during the Marawi rebellion. We are of course not oblivious of such succor and we reiterate our appreciation for that deed,” Secretary Panelo explained.
“It is noteworthy for the Americans fought side-by-side with the Americans to stop the Japanese during World War II,” Secretary Panelo was quoted saying. Being dependent on another country to defend the Philippines will further weaken and stagnate the country’s limited resources.
(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)
