By Deighton Acuin

PHOTO: PCOO

"Sa totoong buhay, 'yang papel, wala 'yan... Sa usapang bugoy, sabihin ko sa'yo, ibigay mo sa akin, sabihin ko sa'yo p—ng ina papel lang 'yan. Itatapon ko 'yan sa waste basket.”

This was what President Rodrigo Duterte had to say on the recent arbitral victory received by the Philippines against China amid its massive claiming of the islands in the West Philippine Sea.

In his second national address for this week, Duterte took a jab at former Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert Del Rosario by saying he cannot afford to go to the United Nations (UN) to assert the country’s territorial rights and that would be a “waste of time” causing “disruption of the good relationship” of Philippines and China.

"P—tang ina, akala ko ba Pilipino ka? Alam mo ba ang utang na loob? Do you know the dimensions of utang na loob? 'Yong utang na loob, iba 'yong away. Ito—para tayong nandiyan na neighbor nila na naghirap, tinulungan tayo, so sinabi ko salamat. May utang na loob tayo," Duterte said.

Furthermore, Duterte said he was told by Chinese President Xi Jinping that one day, "he will go to where his oil is in the West Philippine Sea." And Duterte replied not to do such "because there might be trouble."

"Sabi niya, whatever your claim is, 'wag mong gawin 'yan. 'Why?' He whispers na, 'Do not do that because there might be trouble," the President said.

He said the Chinese leader’s response have made him to back off because the UN did not matter anymore.

According to Duterte, Del Rosario must be investigated as he accused the former DFA Chief for ordering the withdrawal of the Philippine Coast Guard from patrolling in the contested waters.

"So magpunta ka man ng United Nations, magpunta ka man ng America, magpunta ka saan mang impyerno kung gusto mo ng tulong, pagdating mo papel ang dala mo o anong gusto mo? Trouble is away 'yan," Duterte said.

"Ipadala ko mga Navy ko doon, for what? Ipadala ko mga coast guard doon, for them to die? 'Di akong gagong ganoon. Why would I waste Filipino soldiers' lives?"

"Bakit mo pinaatras? Kaninong permission? Ngayon kung wala kang maibigay, p—tang ina mo 'wag mong ibigay sa akin 'yong kasalanan mo," he said. "One day you will be tasked to answer for that,” he added.

The Chief Executive then slammed former Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonio Carpio and even urged him to have a debate regarding the issue.

"Itong Carpio naman sulat nang sulat ng desisyon para sa kaniyang utak lang. Isa ring ugok. Pareho naman tayong abogado, gusto mo magdebate tayo? Dalawa, tatlong tanong lang ako," Duterte said. "Sino ang nagpa-retreat at anong ginawa ninyo after sa retreat?"

Meanwhile, he said that he will step down from his post if his claim will be proven false.

"Maski sinong abogado tanungin ninyo, 'yan ang nangyari. Ngayon kung ako ay nagsisinungaling, mag-resign ako bukas kaagad. 'Yan ang garantiya ko sa inyo," he said.

It was in July 2016 when the Hague Court of Arbitration favored the Philippines’ case against China’s nine-dash claim sovereignty in the South China Sea.

The decision also concluded that the Spratly Islands, Panganiban Reef, Ayungin Shoal, and the Recto Bank are within the exclusive economic zone of the Philippines.

However, China rejected the ruling by saying the territorial issue is “indisputable.”


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