No rush for us to interpret Pres. Duterte’s remarks on separating from US – Palace

From the Philippine News Agency (Oct 21): No rush for us to interpret Pres. Duterte’s remarks on separating from US – Palace

Malacañang said Friday there is no rush for them to interpret President Rodrigo Duterte’s statement announcing separation from the United States “both in military but economics also”.

”We still have to wait for guidelines. There is no rush for us to interpret the speech of the President,” Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Assistant Secretary for Operations and Special Concerns Marie Banaag said in a press briefing.

Banaag said they have to wait for the concerned government agencies, including the Department of National Defense (DND) and Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), to release official documents about the President’s statement.

”We would not like to interpret the pronouncement of the President so that once it is on paper, it’s clear what the President really is wanting us to have with regards to our relationship with the US,” Banaag said.

President Duterte announced his separation from the Philippines’ old ally, the US, before Chinese leaders and business leaders during Thursday’s Philippines-China Trade and Investment Forum at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.

”The reason why I decided to shift gear is because I do not see any reason why I should stick with America who invaded us after the Spaniards for 400 years, stayed there for 50 years and since then, nothing has happened,” President Duterte explained.

”And in this shifting of political and cultural thing, America has lost it. I mean, I realigned myself in your ideological flow and maybe I will also go to Russia to talk to Putin and tell him that there are three of us against the world: China, Philippines and Russia,” he added.

Duterte said he would rather borrow money from China, which he said is sincere, and other countries, such as Japan and South Korea, and even Russia.

”If China would find in his heart to help us in our needs, then we will remember you for all time,” President Duterte said.

Banaag urged the public not to make any speculation about the Chief Executive’s pronouncement.

”Once the paper is in, I don’t think it would be needed for us to make speculations. Since we have no paper to base our speculation, there is no need to worry or react to what the President has said,” the PCO official said.

President Duterte is set to return from his four-day state visit in Beijing on Friday night.

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