MANILA – Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo once again defended President Rodrigo Duterte over the latter’s remark that the Chinese fishermen were allowed to fish in the Philippines since the two countries are friends.
Panelo on Thursday said Duterte meant that the government of China will not permit their fishermen from fishing in our exclusive economic zone (EEZ) because Manila and Beijing are friends.
“After watching the President’s interview and reading its transcript, I have evaluated that it appears that what the President meant was China would not allow their nationals from fishing in our EEZ since they treat us as their friends,” Panelo said.
“Knowing that permitting their fishermen to fish in our EEZ would only result in an unwanted hostility leading to an armed confrontation,” he added. “(Duterte) confirmed that indeed that was what he meant.”
Duterte was further asked if the government should prevent China from fishing in those waters, to which he replied: “I don’t think China would do that.”
He added the Philippine and Chinese governments mutually agreed to allow fishermen from both countries to trawl in the disputed waters.
Panelo assured the public that Duterte would not waive the Philippines’ sovereign rights over its EEZ in the South China Sea, noting that the President even urged China to join in the finalization of a code of conduct in the contested waters to avoid another sea accident from happening again.
“The Filipinos can rest assured that the President’s actions are all in accord with his Constitutional mandate to serve and protect the Filipino people,” said Panelo./PN
