A ruckus left by President Duterte on Wednesday, May 6, after he referred to the 2016 Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) ruling in The Hague on the West Philippine Sea (WPS) as “a piece of paper.”
In his televised speech, Duterta blamed the previous administration for letting China invade the disputed waters. Furthermore, he emphasized that the arbitrary decision is merely a piece of paper that could not enforce against stronghold countries.
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“Iyang papel sa totoong buhay between nations, iyang papel wala ‘yan. Kung sino ‘yong tigas, United States, Britain ‘yan, pagka ginusto nilang ganyan gawin. Tayo nanalo. Ngayon pagdating ko ang barko nandiyan sa West Philippine Sea, China boat, ship, tayo wala na,” he said.
But with Duterte disparaging the arbitral ruling, several personalities aired their disgust toward the Philippine President.
Journalist Kevin Manalo inquired if the public is “weirded out” by Duterte, who undermined the victory of the Philippines over China in the 2016 arbitral ruling.
Aren't you weirded out that our very own president would belittle the Philippines' win in the Hague 2016 legal victory over China?
— Kevin Manalo (@kevinmanalo_) May 6, 2021
In another tweet, Manalo lambasted Duterte for not deserving the position because he “bows down that easily.”
If the highest seat in the land thinks this way and would bow down that easily, it doesn't make sense anymore why he's still the president.
— Kevin Manalo (@kevinmanalo_) May 6, 2021
ABS-CBN journalist Sherrie Ann Torres reiterated Sen. Risa Hontiveros’s statement regarding the Arbitral Award of the Philippines.
According to woman senator, Duterte and his “friendship” with China are the ones to be discarded.
Sen @risahontiveros : Hinding-hindi basura ang Arbitral Award ng Pilipinas. Ginto ang katumbas nito, sa laki ng likas-yaman na nasa West Philippine Sea… Kung tutuusin, ang dapat ibasura ay ang mga salita ni Presidente, kasama na rin ang special friendship niya sa Tsina.
— sherrie ann torres (@sherieanntorres) May 6, 2021
Inday Espina Varona, a journalist, highlighted retired Supreme Court justice Antonio Carpio’s statement about his observance regarding the issue on the WPS.
As per Carpio, Duterte is “downplaying the outrage done by his foreign patron, China, and evading his own accountability.”
Galing kay Justice Carpio.
Me: Duterte’s lies are clearly aimed at downplaying the outrage done by his foreign patron, China, and evading his own accountability. Kulang na lang ihain tayo sa lapag ng bosing nyang dayuhan. Just one more reason why he should resign. pic.twitter.com/sDdHKi4mRY— inday espina varona (@indayevarona) May 6, 2021
Artist Teta Limcangco used Duterte’s logic, stressing that his win in the 2016 Presidential election is also just a paper and deserving of being dumped as well.
"Sa totoong buhay, ang papel wala yan"
If thats the case, can we just ignore and throw in the garbage can the paper that says "Rodrigo Duterte won the presidency in 2016 ?— Teta Limcangco (@teta_limcangco) May 6, 2021
TV personality Kiko Rustia called Duterte “coward”, “traitor,” and “swindler” after he belittled the win of the Philippines over China regarding the WPS.
Duwag. Traydor. Estapador. https://t.co/uPONEzHiR5
— kiko rustia (@kikorustia) May 5, 2021
A twitter personality raised the question about how much China paid Duterte to continue ignoring the WPS issue.
Magkano kaya sahod nito sa Chinese government?
— Harper (@Harperblammo) May 5, 2021
In another tweet, the personality wanted the President to show his SALN (Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth).
Arbitral Award, katibayan na teritoryo ng Pilipinas itatapon sa basurahan?
Pasilip naman dyan ng SALN mo Wang Bu.— Harper (@Harperblammo) May 5, 2021
Goyo, another Twitter personality reiterated his tweet that the Philippines’ enemies are China and Duterte.
Gaya ng tweet ko days back:
Clearly, it's the Philippines VS China and Duterte— Goyo Guro (@fdposa) May 5, 2021
Now that the Philippine President showed no care about the arbitral ruling, Kulotissima, a twitter personality, wants impeachment for Duterte.
It’s time to #ImpeachDuterteTraydor
— Kulotissima (@kulotissima) May 6, 2021
Meanwhile, columnist Richard Heydarian shared a collection of previous news about Duterte’s stand in the WPS issue. Heydarian noted that Duterte is battling himself as he constantly contradicts his statements.
In Duterte’s earlier remarks, the president stressed that the arbitral ruling is absolute. But now, Duterte is stating that the Award is “a piece of paper.”
TATAY vs TATAY vs TATAY? 😀🙈👊🤫 pic.twitter.com/DoDm6dg6Cc
— Richard Heydarian (@RichHeydarian) May 6, 2021
Former foreign affairs chief Albert Del Rosario also considered Duterte’s latest remark as a “national tragedy” as the president junked the Arbitral Ruling in favor of China.
KAMPI SA CHINA?
Former foreign affairs chief Albert Del Rosario calls President Duterte's latest remark about the Philippines' 2016 arbitral win a "national tragedy."
Related report: https://t.co/ICEhAo9SGx pic.twitter.com/v8z6fU8XXR
— ABS-CBN News (@ABSCBNNews) May 6, 2021
On the other hand, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana defended Duterte, stating that the President is correct.
“What President Duterte said last night regarding the PCA ruling is correct,” said Lorenzana.
“There is no international law enforcement body that can enforce it. However, even without the PCA ruling, we will continue to defend what is rightfully ours.”
Nevertheless, in 2018, Judge Stanislaw Pawlak, one of the judges in the Philippines’ arbitral case explained through Rappler’s Rappler Talk that though no authority can enforce the ruling, it can pressure China to behave for the sake of economic and security interests.
“In the long run, I think economic interests, security interests, will prevail. It’s in the interest also of China to be accepted as a good neighbor and also to have good trade with neighbors,” he said.
