Marcos on VP foreign policy criticisms: Dutertes are pro-China

Metro Manila, Philippines - President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has expected the foreign policy criticisms of Vice President Sara Duterte as her family is pro-China, the Palace press officer said on Tuesday, June 24.

In an event in Australia, Duterte slammed the government’s move to allow the deployment of US Typhon missiles in the country.

She said there was no reason for the government to “lean” towards the US as the country should “stay in the middle” of America’s tensions with China.

Duterte said the Philippines should only “force the implementation” of the 2016 arbitral award through diplomatic channels.

“The president said we expect that from the Dutertes because they are pro-China, ang pangulo ay (the president is) pro-Philippines,” Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said in a briefing.

In an exclusive interview with NewsWatch Plus in February, Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo insisted the Typhon deployment is Manila’s prerogative amid demands from Beijing to pull out the missile system. He also called out China for what he described as an “overreaction.”

In his State of the Nation Address last year, Marcos said upholding a rules-based international order remains the “only acceptable means in settling disputes.”

NewsWatch Plus has reached out to Duterte’s office for comment.