Former President Rodrigo Duterte is not interested to serve as special envoy to China, his former spokesman, Salvador Panelo, said on Wednesday.
While no formal offer has been made by the Marcos administration, at least three senators have expressed their support for the possibility of designating Duterte as a special envoy to China.
“First of all, there is no need for that.
He is a former president. He is enjoying his retirement. Let us leave him alone,” Panelo said.
“Even if he (Duterte) is not being told to do so, he is doing his part. His (recent) visit to China expands and deepens (our) relationship with China,” he added.
Duterte last month flew to China to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping “as old friends.”
Xi asked Duterte to continue promoting “friendly cooperation” between the two countries.
Despite the high-level meeting, China ramped up its incursions in the West Philippine Sea.
Chinese vessels used water cannons and dangerous maneuvers against Philippine vessels on a resupply mission near Ayungin Shoal.
Panelo suggested a “new tack” in handling the WPS issue as he questioned a Senate resolution that suggests, among others, raising China’s illegal acts before the UN General Assembly.
He said friendly cooperation can instead be done, such as joint coast guard patrols, joint fishery efforts, and even joint development of the disputed territory.
Meanwhile, National Security Council spokesperson Jonathan Malaya said on Wednesday the exchange program that sends military officers to study in China will be discussed in a meeting of the National Task Force on the West Philippine Sea.
“The position of the Senate on this is that it would be better if we stop sending them to China as a result of the incident in Ayungin Shoal,” he said.
“But for our part in the NSC, perhaps we will have a meeting on this in the NTF-WPS, which is headed by Secretary Eduardo Año,” he said.