Panelo to US think tank: Don’t tell us what to do

Presidential Chief Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo yesterday called out a Washingtonbased think tank for urging President Duterte to assert the country’s rights over the West Philippine Sea (WPS or South China Sea).

The Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) – a public policy research institution dedicated to analysis and policy impact – has urged Duterte to act on the ruling of the arbitral tribunal of the Hague on the West Philippine Sea.

According to Panelo, nobody but the Philippines can tell when the right time is for the government to assert its right on the disputed waters.

“Hindi sila dapat nakikialam kung ano ‘yung gusto ng Pilipinas (They should not interfere with out affairs). That’s foreign interference,” he said over Radyo ng Bayan.

“Tayo may sarili tayong programa, tayo ang magdidikta kung kailan natin i-aassert (We have our own programs; we will be the ones to dictate when we will assert our rights),” he added.

CSIS Southeast Asia program senior adviser Ernest Bower on Friday pointed out the popular clamor that the Philippines should assert its claim over the West Philippine Sea.

“It’s what Filipinos want to do and I think the Philippines showed a lot of courage. It had nothing to do with Philippine domestic politics, it had to do with the Philippines’ sovereignty,” Bower said.

“I think the world admired the Philippines’ courage and leadership to take that [arbitration] case [to the Hague] and get the decision and I believe President Duterte would be wise to follow through on it,” he added.

A Pulse Asia survey published last January said eight out of 10 Filipinos believe that the government should assert its claim on the West Philippine Sea.

Meanwhile, Panelo said that just like what the President stated, the time will come, within Duterte’s term, when the Philippines and China will finally get to talk about the disputed waters but now is not that time.

Last week, Duterte reiterated that the country first needs to forge a good relationship with China, so that both nations can bring up and discuss the issue as friends.

“Dapat mag-kaibigan muna tayo para (We should become friends first so that) when we face each other, may respeto (there is respect) and there is dignity on both sides,” he said.

“I would like to assure China and this is what I have committed to do when I was there: Tthat we will talk as friends,” he added.

According to Duterte, the Philippines will not stand a chance if it wages war against China over the West Philippine Sea.

“We cannot afford violence and go to war. That would only result in slaughter because we are no match with the China’s armory and power,” he said.

“I remain true to my word of honor and that is what will be the rule until such time that they will be able to find an avenue to talk of the arbitral, ‘yung award sa atin (the award given to us),” he added.