Rody pays tribute to ‘diplomat’ Angara

Describing former Senate president and special envoy to the European Union Edgardo Angara as a true diplomat, President Duterte admitted yesterday that he can never be like the former lawmaker due to his bad mouth.

Duterte had good words for the late senator, whom he described as a statesman and a diplomat, when he personally paid last respects to Angara during his wake at Heritage Park in Taguig.

Duterte appointed Angara, a former University of the Philippines president, as special envoy to the EU last year to help thresh out the misunderstanding between the President and European representatives.

Interviewed after he visited the wake, Duterte gave Angara credit for backchanneling efforts with EU since last year.

He added that Angara was in Malacañang recently. “Siya ang tagatanggol sa bunganga ko sa EU. Hindi kami magkaintindihan ng mga

puti. Sen. Ed Angara is a humble, quiet person who was really a diplomat. I can never be one, ever,” Duterte said.

The President condoled with members of the Angara family, including his son Sen. Sonny Angara.

At the start of the Duterte administration, Angara pushed for mutual consultation between the Philippines and the EU after the Europeans threatened to withdraw grants to the country due to Duterte’s open show of displeasure against the group for criticizing his drug war.

Last October, Angara talked about the EU’s additional 70 million euros in development aid despite the President’s recent rants.

In a chance interview at the high level forum of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations last year, Angara downplayed the impact of Duterte’s tirades against the EU, saying that the issue has been clarified between two the parties.

Following talks with counterparts in the EU, Angara explained that the process will now allow both parties to consult each other first before any grant is revoked.

The EU was involved in providing the country with development aid, especially in Mindanao, the former senator had said.

Angara shared Duterte’s concerns on the conditions set by EU and other countries providing aid to the country, which became an issue during the administration in light of Duterte’s war against illegal drugs.

The President also paid his last respects to Cheng Muhlach, father of actor Aga Muhlach, whose wake is also at Heritage Park.