Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 7)— President Rodrigo Duterte has assigned his spokesperson Harry Roque to engage in a debate with retired Supreme Court Justice Antonio Carpio on West Philippine Sea issues.
Last Wednesday, Duterte accused Carpio of having a role in the withdrawal of Philippine ships in a standoff with Chinese vessels in the Scarborough Shoal and challenged Carpio to a debate on the events in the West Philippine Sea.
The challenge was “gladly accepted” by Carpio, with the Philippine Bar Association later offering to host the debate.
On Friday, Roque announced he was tapped to face Carpio instead. He said that while Duterte was “very much ready” to go on a face-off with Carpio, the chief executive was advised by members of his Cabinet not to push through with it.
“Handang-handa po sana ang Presidente na dumibate pero kagabi po eh tinanggap po niya ang advice ng ilang mga miyembro ng Gabinete,” Roque said. “Ang sabi po ng ating mga Gabinete na unang-una, wala pong mabuting magiging resulta itong debateng ito para sa sambayanang Pilipino.”
[Translation: The President was really ready to go on a debate but last night, he accepted the advice of some members of the Cabinet. One, they said the Filipino people won’t gain anything from the proposed debate.]
Roque added Cabinet members also expressed concern about the debate the President broached with retired justice Carpio, whom they described as an “ordinary lawyer.”
“Pero tuloy po ang debate,” Roque stressed. “Ang sabi po ni Presidente kung papayag si Antonio Carpio, tuloy po ang debate dahil importante naman na marinig iyong mga ideya para ang taumbayan ang makagawa ng konklusyon.”
[Translation: But the debate will push through. The President said if Antonio Carpio agrees, the debate will continue because it’s important to hear the ideas so that the Filipino people can conclude for themselves.]
In response, Carpio said it would be “pointless” to debate if the face-off will only tackle issues surrounding the Scarborough Shoal and Mischief Reef.
“I will not engage in a useless exercise that will only detract the public’s interest on the vital outstanding issues on the West Philippines Sea,” Carpio said in a statement.
LOOK: Retired Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio responds on Pres. Duterte's decision not to debate with him and appointing spokesperson Harry Roque instead. @cnnphilippines pic.twitter.com/xbWwiRLtUv
— Tristan Nodalo (@TristanNodalo) May 7, 2021
