Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 31) — Former President Rodrigo Duterte is the best person to lead possible backchannel talks with China, said Senator Alan Peter Cayetano who served as Foreign Affairs Secretary during his term.
In a chance interview at the Senate, Cayetano said it is up to President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. to decide whether the Philippines needs backchannel or informal negotiations with China amid the long-standing dispute on the West Philippine Sea.
Cayetano said he’s not ready to make a recommendation himself, afraid to preempt the senators’ closed-door meeting with some officials from the executive on Monday.
“Iba yung back channeling eh, araw-araw na usap yan, comfort and trust ng pangulo. So I do know may trust si president Marcos kay president Duterte pero iba yung day to day negotiation,” Cayetano said.
“But if ever we need someone who can go to the highest levels of the Chinese government that the Chinese government trust, and that Filipinos trust, eh si president Duterte yon,” he added.
[Translation: Back channeling is different, it involves discussions every day, comfort and trust from the president. So I do know may trust si president Marcos trusts president Duterte, but day to day negotiations are different. But if ever we need someone who can go to the highest levels of the Chinese government that the Chinese government trust, and that Filipinos trust, that would be president Duterte.]Cayetano expressed confidence Duterte can deliver “urgent, emergency, sincere messages” to China. He also dismissed criticisms against Duterte’s alleged defeatist stance on the West Philippine Sea issue during his administration.
“Iba lang yung pagiging bulaklakin ng bibig niya. Iba lang siya magsalita but he never sold out the Philippines and he will never sell out the Philippines,” Cayetano stressed.
[Translation: The way he speaks is different. It’s different but he never sold out the Philippines and he will never sell out the Philippines.]
Cayetano said he also sees that the Chinese government respects Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo.
Manalo, as well as Armed Forces of the Philippines chief Gen. Romeo Brawner, and National Security Adviser Eduardo Año are in the Senate for a closed-door meeting on opposition Senator Risa Hontiveros’ resolution, which seeks to elevate China’s incursions in the West Philippine Sea to the United Nations General Assembly.
