President Rodrigo Duterte (Malacañang)
According to Presidential spokesman Harry Roque, the President did not deceive the nation since he never promised to take back the territory that was lost during the past administration during the 2016 campaign.
“Hindi po ‘yun panggogoyo. Malinaw ang ginamit na salita ng Presidente. Hindi po niya sinabi na ‘yung nawalang teritoryo ng nakalipas na administrasyon maibabalik niya. Ang pinangako niya wala nang mawawalang teritoryo sa Pilipinas na siya naman pong nangyayari ngayon (There is no deception. The President’s statement was clear. He did not say he will retake territory lost during the past administration. What he promised was no more territory in the Philippines will be lost, which is happening now),” Roque said in a media interview.
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Philippine diplomat apologizes for profanity toward China
The Philippines foreign secretary has apologized after tweeting an obscene phrase demanding China get out of Philippine-claimed territories in the South China Sea in an outburst that annoyed the Philippine president
By JIM GOMEZ Associated Press
May 4, 2021, 9:28 AM
• 3 min read
The Associated Press
FILE - In this Feb. 6, 2020, file photo, Philippine Secretary of Foreign Affairs Teodoro Locsin Jr. gestures during a senate hearing in Manila, Philippines. Locsin apologized Tuesday, May 4,2021, after tweeting an obscene phrase demanding China get out of Philippine-claimed territory in the South China Sea in an outburst that annoyed the Philippine president. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila, File)
Published Tuesday, May 4, 2021 6:43AM EDT MANILA, Philippines The Philippines foreign secretary apologized Tuesday after tweeting an obscene phrase demanding China get out of Philippine-claimed territory in the South China Sea in an outburst that annoyed the Philippine president. Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. blasted China with the profanity on Monday, when the Department of Foreign Affairs announced it had protested the Chinese coast guard s “shadowing, blocking, dangerous manoeuvr and radio challenges” of Philippine coast guard ships patrolling and carrying out exercises from April 24 to 25 at disputed Scarborough Shoal. Locsin also compared China to “an ugly oaf” which was “forcing your attentions on a handsome guy who wants to be a friend.”
Philippine diplomat apologizes for profanity toward China 680news.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from 680news.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
President Duterte delivers a public address on May 3, 2021 (Malacañang)
The President thumbed down on any disrespectful behavior as he recognized that China remains a “benefactor” of the country. Duterte, who previously thanked China for its donated vaccines, asserted that the nation actually owed a lot to the Asian neighbor.
“China remains to be our benefactor and just because, if I may just add something to the narrative, just because we have a conflict with China doesn’t mean to say we have to be rude and disrespectful,” Duterte said during a televised address Monday, May 3.
“As a matter of fact, we have many things to thank China for the help in the past, and itong mga tulong ngayon,” he added.