By Alec Go
Former Associate Justice Antonio Carpio accepted on Thursday (May 6) President Rodrigo Duterte’s challenge to debate on the issues concerning the West Philippine Sea.
“I gladly accept the challenge anytime at the President’s convenience,” Carpio said in a statement, in response to Duterte’s dare during his public address on Wednesday night (May 5).
“Gusto mo mag-debate tayo? May dalawa, tatlong tanong lang ako. Sino ang nagpa-retreat? At anong ginawa ninyo after sa retreat? Nag-file ng kaso, ngayon nanalo. Ma-enforce ba natin?” Duterte said.
According to Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque, the debate between Duterte and Carpio “has been ongoing as far as the Filipino people are concerned.”
“If he wants a formal debate, kahit kailan pa ‘yan, welcome naman kay Presidente ‘yan,” Roque said.
Duterte brought up anew on Wednesday that it was under the previous administration when the Philippines lost control over some of its islands in the WPS, when it decided to withdraw its ships in a standoff with China in 2012.
“So nag-atras tayo. Ang problema, sabay para ma-defuse ang tension. Sabay kayong umatras. Tayo umatras because [former Foreign Affairs Secretary] Albert [Del Rosario] called the — maybe the ships, ordered it to withdraw. The mystery question here is: Was it approved by President Aquino? Siya ‘yong presidente eh,” he said.
“Ang 2014, much earlier before I became president in 2016, napaalis na ni Albert. Bakit mo pinaatras? Kaninong permission ka nanghingi? Ngayon, kung wala kang maibigay, huwag mong ibigay sa akin ‘yong kasalanan mo,” he added.
Carpio said, “I state under oath that I was never involved in the decision to withdraw Philippine Navy ships from the West Philippine Sea during the 2012 Scarborough standoff. I was serving in the Supreme Court at that time and all I knew about the withdrawal of Philippine Navy ships was what I read in the newspapers,” he said. – jlo
