Sec. Roque said the chief executive himself chose the topics of his speech in the high-level debate and was only given assistance by the “Team Philippines” in the development of his address.
“Iyong mga subject matter po na nabanggit ng Presidente pagdating sa international issues, si Presidente po mismo ang namili kung anong gusto niyang i-discuss… Malaking input po talaga riyan ay galing kay Presidente mismo. (The subject matters on international issues he wanted to discuss were chosen by the President himself… A great part of the input came from the President),” Roque stated.
Meanwhile, the Palace emphasized that the policies mentioned by President Duterte, especially on the South China Sea issue, have long been the stance of the Philippines.
Roque also responded to former Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario who called on President Duterte to enact the arbitral award of the Philippines against China regarding the disputed territories.
“Ang sa akin lang po, si Secretary Del Rosario, he is a Filipino, he is entitled to speak pero parang hindi po maganda na dinidiktihan niya ang Presidente. Hindi ko po alam kung ano ang special qualification niya para diktahan niya ang isang Presidente. (For me, Secretary Del Rosario is a Filipino and he is entitled to speak, but it is not good to dictate what the President must do. I don’t know what his special qualifications are for him to dictate on a President),” Roque stated. – Report from Mela Lesmoras
