FORMER Senator Franklin Drilon on Friday urged former President Rodrigo Duterte to make a public disclosure about his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
He noted that Duterte and Xi’s meeting coincided with an impending Senate resolution urging the government to bring before the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) China’s incursions over the West Philippine Sea (WPS).
Sen. Risa Hontiveros filed a Senate resolution urging the Philippine government to bring Chinese harassment to UNGA through the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).
“I think it is important that former President Duterte make public the discussion and the issues that they discussed during the meeting,” Drilon said.
“Out of respect and courtesy to the sitting president, I call on former President Duterte to either disclose or, at the very least, provide a briefing to President Marcos or Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo,” he stressed.
The former Senate President cited the importance of transparency, accountability, and the public’s right to information. He highlighted
the need for the Filipino people to be informed about the outcomes of such a significant meeting, especially if it involves the country’s
claims on the WPS.
“In our system of government, the formulation of foreign policy lies within the purview of the president, who acts as the chief architect,”
he noted.
Drilon said it is of utmost importance to ensure that the President is well-informed of this significant encounter with one of the world’s
most powerful leaders.
With Duterte’s stature and influence, his views and actions continue to carry weight and may be interpreted in various ways, particularly
by Xi.
He said the issues that were potentially raised during the meeting involved our national sovereignty.
Due to this, he said the DFA should be briefed on the details of the meeting, as it is not a matter of private concern but one that affects
the entire nation.
He underscored the importance of maintaining a unified stance on matters of national interest, such as the WPS issue, to avoid
weakening the country’s position.
Drilon hopes Duterte’s visit would not influence President Marcos’ stance on the WPS issue.
