After challenge, Duterte won't debate with Carpio

President Rodrigo Duterte will not square off with retired Supreme Court Justice Antonio Carpio in a debate on the issues surrounding the West Philippine Sea, Malacañang announced on Friday.

Duterte made the decision after some of his Cabinet members advised him not to face Carpio supposedly because nothing good will come out of it, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said in an announcement aired on state-run PTV.

“The President was ready to debate [with Carpio] but he accepted last night the advice of some Cabinet members including Executive Secretary [Salvador] Medialdea,” Roque said, adding Senate President Vicente Sotto III and Senator Aquilino Pimentel III were also against the idea of a Duterte-Carpio debate. '

Duterte will be represented instead by Roque. The Philippine Bar Association has already offered to host the debate.

GMA News Online has asked for Carpio’s comment on the Palace’s announcement.

Roque said the Cabinet believed it would not be “fair” for a sitting President to debate with an ordinary lawyer and whatever Duterte will say during the debate might affect government policies.

The Palace spokesman also cited executive privilege, which allows the President to withhold certain information from the courts, the Congress, and the public in the exercise of policy decision making.

“This kind of information might be compromised had the President decided to appear in the debate,” Roque said.

Roque said the debate should focus on which administration lost possession of the Scarborough Shoal and Mischief Reef to China.

He also raised the question of whether there is basis for Carpio's statement that Duterte had set aside the 2016 arbitral ruling that invalidated Beijing's sweeping claims in the South China Sea, a portion of which Manila refers to as the West Philippine Sea.

Roque also asked if claims that Duterte gave away territories had basis.

He said it is important for the Filipino people to hear the arguments that will help them make a conclusion.

"Retired Supreme Court Justice Antonio Carpio, it would be a pleasure to debate against you. I'll see you at the designated time and place," Roque said.

In a televised address on Wednesday night, Duterte claimed that Carpio was involved in the decision to withdraw Navy ships during a 2012 standoff with China at Scarborough Shoal. He vowed to resign if proven false and challenged Carpio to a debate.

Carpio denied the President’s claim, adding Duterte should resign immediately “to keep his word of honor.” 

Sotto and Pimentel have earlier said that a Duterte-Carpio debate will not benefit the Filipino people.

"I doubt if the country will benefit from such a debate," Sotto said.

Pimentel, for his part, said such debate is unnecessary because "it will not settle anything" and will "only give to the entire world the impression that we are divided on the issue."  —KBK, GMA News