US playing lip service to PH – Duterte

Presidential candidate Mayor Rodrigo Duterte yesterday accused the United States (US) of merely paying lip service to the Philippines in its territorial dispute with China over West Philippine Sea.

Interviewed after attending a socalled “Ronda Serye” consultation meeting with jeepney drivers and vendors at the University of

the Philippines campus, Duterte also clarified statements previously attributed to him in connection with the LGBT controversy hounding Sarangani Rep. Manny Pacquiao.

“I respect his opinion. Freedom of speech is important. I may disagree with what he said but I will defend his right to say it,” the Davao City mayor stressed.

Asked to react on China’s reported positioning of missiles in the contested territories, Duterte noted that despite President Barack Obama’s show of concern over China’s militarization of areas in the contested South China Sea, the Americans’ sincerity in taking the cudgels for Filipinos remains questionable.

Duterte said the Philippines should opt for a peaceful settlement of the dispute, stressing that the international court should swiftly resolve the legal issues raised by the Philippines in claiming the disputed areas.

“We cannot fight China militarily, we should avoid armed confrontation,” he said.

However, he said the country should not rely solely on the help of the Americans which is bound by a treaty to defend the Philippines in case of armed conflict with any nation.

Duterte explained that his opinion is supported by the fact that the Americans did not lift a finger when China started building structures in the contested territories despite the presence of the 7th Fleet during the period of construction.

“They are not a good ally,” stated Duterte, referring to the Americans.

He said the current stand of the US on the issue is a belated response to the problem that has hounded Philippines for several years now.

In the same interview, Duterte agreed with Pacquiao that Philippine laws have not yet acknowledged same sex marriage.

Duterte, standard bearer of the PDP-Laban, had previously endorsed the senatorial candidacy of Pacquiao.

The city mayor’s opinion on the issue somewhat balanced previous statements he issued assailing the Sarangani lawmaker for his remarks against the same sex behavior of human beings as worse than animals.