On Wednesday, October 26, Malacañang refused to give an interpretation on President Rodrigo Duterte’s statement telling American businesses to “pack up and leave” if they are so worried with the ongoing war against crime and drugs in the Philippines.
Assistant Presidential Communications Secretary Ana Marie Banaag said on a dialogue with DZMM, “We have no documentary basis, but if he indeed said that in the transcript of the Presidential Communications Team – President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, we don’t want to rush to interpret that again.”
Banaag adds that they will “wait for official statement on the matter.”
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DZMM’s Ted Failon tried to seek clarification to this statement by Duterte: “E di magsilayas kayo. Magtiis kami [Go ahead, pack your bags. We will sacrifice]. We will recover, I assure you. We will live and survive. We have gone through the worst times in this planet,” he said in his departure speech before leaving for his state visit in Japan.
According to her, official clarifications on the President’s statement will most likely be coming from Duterte himself or his Cabinet officials who deal with foreign investors directly once they return from Japan.
Duterte has announced on different occasions his desire to “separate” from the US in terms of military and economic aspects as well as his displeasure on their criticisms against his anti-crime and drug war. Because of this, the President has shown no concern over American and European investors wanting to leave the country.
Banaag, however, reassures that President Duterte’s proclamations should not concern the public.
“Wag po tayong mabahala kasi kaakibat po niyan ay pagmamalasakit. Sana doon po sa ginagawa niya, magtiwala tayo na may gusto siyang gawin sa ating bansa,” Banaag assures.
Source: (news.abs-cbn.com)
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