MALACAÑANG on Tuesday expressed gratitude to former President Fidel V. Ramos after his resignation as special envoy to China following his criticisms of President Rodrigo Duterte’s repeated tirades against the United States and his apparent tilt towards China.
“[President Fidel V. Ramos’] presence is invaluable. PFVR was appointed by PRRD as Special Envoy precisely because of his stature, credibility as our elderly statesman and his ability to break the ice with the Chinese Government,” Communications Secretary Martin Andanar said in a statement.
“[Ramos] was instrumental in the softening of ties between our government and the PROC, which led to the very successful recent State Visit of PRRD in Beijing.”
Presidential Spokesman Ernesto Abella said it was up to Duterte if he would accept Ramos’ resignation.
“According to FVR [Fidel V. Ramos], the letter has been submitted to the office of the Executive Secretary [Salvador Medialdea],” Abella said in a text message.
“But it will be up to PRRD [President Rodrigo Roa Duterte] whether to accept it or not.”
Ramos resigned as special envoy to China on Monday shortly after criticizing Duterte in four successive weekly columns in a national broadsheet, saying he was “losing badly” by giving priority to the war on drugs at the expense of other problems such as poverty, the lack of jobs and the high cost of living and described him as a “huge disappointment and letdown.”