DAVAO CITY, Oct. 22 (PNA) -- President Rodrigo Duterte has underscored the value of mutual respect for a sovereign nation and the dignity of Filipinos in pushing for an independent foreign policy for the Philippines, so no nation like the United States could dictate to it.
As he
arrived Friday night from his state visit to the People’s Republic of China,
President Duterte also said that his latest pronouncement that he is separating
from the US should not be taken as severing ties with America.
He
said there will be no severance of ties with the US.
“It’s
not severance of ties. When you say severance of ties, you cut the diplomatic
relations. I cannot do that. Why? It’s to the best interest of my country that
we maintain that relationship. Why? Because there are many Filipinos in the
United States… Americans of Filipino ancestry. Why? Because the people of my
country are not ready to accept,” he explained.
He
added that severing diplomatic ties with the US is not feasible. “Why? Because
the Filipinos in the United States will kill me,” he said in jest.
No
puppet
President
Duterte further said that what he was referring to was a foreign policy that
need not dovetail with the foreign policy of America.
He
noted that in the past, the Philippines has always followed the cue from the
United States. “We follow. Pasunod-sunod tayo. Hindi ako magsunod (We always
follow. I will not follow),” he said.
Mutual
respect
President
Duterte aired his sentiments on why he has been negatively treating the US and
pushing for a foreign policy free from the dictates of the US. He has been
lashing out at US officials for criticizing his campaign to rid the Philippines
of corruption, bring down the incidence of crime, and address problems on
illegal drugs.
He
even reminded the US about an incident in Davao in 2002 involving American
Michael Terrence Meiring which the President termed as an affront to Philippine
sovereignty.
“It
has not really appeased me at all. Binastos tayo ng Amerika (America
disrespected us),” he said.
After
an explosion at the Evergreen Hotel on May 16, 2002, Meiring was spirited out
of the Philippines, skipping government protocol. Until now, he said, no US
government official has ever shown the results of their full-scale
investigation after then ambassador to the Philippines Francis Ricciardone
promised to do so.
“To
this day, parang Batman and Robin mystery ‘yan (it’s like a Batman and Robin
mystery),” President Duterte told reporters, adding, “I’ve been waiting for
that report but until now, I haven’t so I really did not know what was the
mystery about.”
Had
it happened to America, they would raise hell for violating their sovereignty,
he said.
“They
will go to war. Kung tayo ginagawa nila sa atin (they have been doing that to
us), there wasn’t even an apology for anything,” he added.
“Is
that respect? Mutual respect?” the President asked.
No comments:
Post a Comment