Palace to gov't officials: Defend WPS, but be diplomatic

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Malacañang on Tuesday urged government officials to exercise diplomacy when discussing issues involving the West Philippine Sea (WPS), but said there was no need to “tone down” their statements as long as these were within their respective mandates.

At a press briefing, Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro said the administration wants government officials to defend the country’s rights and interests in the WPS while ensuring that their statements are conveyed in a diplomatic manner.

“Kung ano ang pagtatanggol nila para sa ating karapatan ay maaaring gamitan ng mga salitang may diplomasya,” she said.

(Whatever they do to defend our rights can be expressed using diplomatic language.)

“Hindi kailangan mag-tone down kung ang mga mensahe nila ay nasa kanilang mandato, but still ang nais ng Pangulo ay diplomasya,” Castro added.

(There is no need to tone down their messages if these are within their mandate, but the President still wants diplomacy.)

On Sunday, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) rebuked Philippine government agencies and officials over their comments on China, saying these could undermine diplomatic efforts and that public officials must align with the administration's position.

“Under the Constitution, the President is the chief architect of Philippine foreign policy,” the DFA said in a statement, adding that all government officials, whether civilian or military, were expected to align with the President's policy directions.

The DFA issued the statement after Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro spoke by phone with her Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi, as part of what it described as a “deliberate effort” to maintain bilateral relations before, during and after the upcoming ASEAN and APEC summits.

The Chinese Embassy in Manila has also issued several statements criticizing Philippine officials and institutions, at times accusing them of being “anti-China.”

According to Castro, the heated exchanges between Philippine and Chinese officials could affect efforts to improve bilateral relations.

“So sa mga usapin na mainit, naaapektuhan po talaga ang maaaring kinahinatnan ng mas maganda pang relasyon sa ibang bansa, not particularly with China. Nais lang ni Secretary Lazaro ay maipakita ang diplomasya,” she said.

(Heated exchanges can affect efforts to build better relations with other countries, not just China. Secretary Lazaro simply wants to demonstrate diplomacy.)

However, Castro said she understood where officials such as Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. and Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Commodore Jay Tarriela were coming from.

Zhang Xiaogang, spokesperson for China's Ministry of National Defense, earlier accused the Philippines of undermining ASEAN's spirit of openness and China's legitimate rights as a dialogue partner.

During the ASEAN Defense Ministers' Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus), Teodoro welcomed defense ministers and representatives of other countries as they entered the venue, but did not greet China's defense attaché to the Philippines, Senior Capt. Yang Lei.— MCG, GMA News

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