Former Senator Sergio Osmeña III slammed President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday, October 24, for what he called “mishandling” our foreign relations and weakening our position against China on the West Philippine Sea.
Duterte caught the attention of the world with his harsh words on US-PH ties and later flip-flopping about it. After his tirades against the US, Duterte announced his “separation” from America during his state visit in China. But he backtracked on this upon his arrival in the Philippines, saying it was nothing but simply having a separate foreign policy from the US, not severing ties with that long-time western ally.
Nonetheless, despite this clarification, Duterte’s handling of our foreign relations is making enemies instead of friends, Osmeña said.
“How do I describe his handling? Mishandling,” the former senator from Cebu said.
“We are not supposed to make enemies. We’re supposed to make friends. There is such a thing as diplomacy, iyung tact na hindi ka magsasalita ng masakit (the kind of tact that prevents you from saying hurtful things), leaving the doors open. But we’re not practicing that. We’re going the other direction,” the senator complained.
Duterte must improve his diplomatic skills, Osmeña said, because his words and actions reflect the image of the country and its people.
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“I think President Duterte means well. I was happy when he won,” Osmeña confessed. “But he might want to learn the niceties of international diplomacy. Why make an enemy for nothing?” Osmeña wondered.
The former senator thinks that conflict with the US may have a negative effect on investments in the country, particularly in the business process outsourcing (BPO) sector. This industry actually directly employs more than one million Filipinos.
“I don’t see them pulling out. (Instead) I see them not expanding, at yung mga gustong pumunta, hold muna yan (and investors who want to invest here might hold back),” Osmeña said.
Duterte’s men should help him out with this, Osmeña advised.
“Hindi pwedeng atras abante, atras abante (he can’t keep on reversing his statements). It has been happening the whole time,” Osmeña complained. “They have to think these things thoroughly, para paglabas ng statement eksakto (so they come out with precise statements).”
Osmeña also claimed Duterte’s volatile attitude could weaken the country’s stance against China on the West Philippine Sea issue, especially when he gave up the opportunity to follow up on the international tribunal ruling in The Hague which favored the Philippines. Instead, Duterte chose to sit down with China for bilateral talks.
“Tingin ngayon sa atin ng buong mundo, ang hina ng tuhod ng mga Pilipino. Isang pitik lang lumuluhod na” Osmeña said. (The whole world now sees us a weakling. With just a tap or flick, we’re easily on our knees).
“Kapag nag-negotiate ka sa (If you negotiate for) Scarborough Shoal, that weakens our position. Why negotiate for our fishermen in our own backyard? That is ours to explore, the 200-km exclusive economic zone, ano pa question dun (No question about that).”
Source: (news.abs-cbn.com)
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