No need to explain President Aquino’s Hitler-reference -- Palace

From the Philippine News Agency (Feb 6): No need to explain President Aquino’s Hitler-reference -- Palace

Despite criticisms hurled at President Benigno S. Aquino III for comparing China’s claim on West Philippine Sea to the Hitler philosophy, Malacanang said Thursday that they were not obliged to provide reasons for his reference.

The President, being the military history buff that he is, cited Hitler in an interview with The New York Times (TNYT) last Wednesday. His reference was later lashed out by an opinion writer of Chinese state-run news agency, Xinhua.

Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr., in a Palace briefing on Thursday, said that at any rate, the President was entitled to voice out what he wanted.

“I don’t think there is any move on our part to explain, the President has the right to express his views to journalists,” he said.

“It is not for me to say if people were overreacting or under-reacting,” he added, stressing that he could only explain the context of the interview.

However, Coloma said that there is still a restriction in the release of the interview transcript because of the nature of agreement with TNYT.

“When conditions would allow, then we are able to share relevant portions that may be useful in obtaining an understanding of the context for the remarks,” Coloma said.

Meanwhile, the Communications Secretary said the government was still pursing avenues for both Philippines and China to attain a closure on the territorial dispute.

“Both parties are continuing dialogues and conversations that would hopefully lead achieving mutually satisfactory results and closure,” he said.

“In the face of all developments, we remain determined to pursue the attainment of agreement because in our view that is the path that is most beneficial to our people,” he added.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=613470