Ex-President Duterte one of the best China backchannel reps –Alan Cayetano

Former President Rodrigo Duterte was one of the best representatives the country could have for backchannel discussions with China on the West Philippine Sea (WPS), Senator Alan Cayetano said Monday.

“There’s no doubt that [former] President Duterte is one of the best representatives of the country in talking to the Chinese government because of his relationship with [Chinese] President Xi [Jinping] and because nga may experience na na good, may experience na bad during his term,” Cayetano, a former Foreign Affairs secretary, said in an ambush interview.

“But having said that, iba ‘yung backchanneling, iba ‘yung araw-araw na negotiation. ‘Yan comfort at trust ng pangulo. So, I do know may trust si President [Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.] kay [former] President Duterte, pero iba ‘yung day to day na negotiation. Pero if ever we need someone na, you know, who can go to the highest levels of the Chinese government, that the Chinese government trusts and the Filipinos trust eh si [former] President Duterte ‘yon,” he added.

Asked when Duterte should come into the negotiations, Cayetano said, “The earlier the better.”

Cayetano, who was Duterte’s running mate in 2016 but failed to win the vice presidency, refuted criticisms against the former president’s friendly foreign policy with China.

“Never ko nakita na nag-compromise si [former] President Duterte and never binenta ang Pilipinas. Iba lang ang pagiging bulaklakin ng bibig niya. Iba lang s’ya magsalita but he never sold out the Philippines,” he said.

Cayetano said the next person to Duterte in terms of negotiating with China is incumbent Foreign Secretary Enrique Manalo.

Manalo could discuss the WPS issue with his counterpart in China, he added.

Cayetano’s suggestion came amid Senate discussions on Senator Risa Hontiveros’ resolution which seeks to bring China’s aggression in the WPS before the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).

The adoption of Hontiveros’ resolution was blocked by Cayetano, who argued that the UN might not be the proper forum as China preferred bilateral talks on territorial disputes and that President Marcos did not mention this course of action as part of the government’s strategy.

Last Thursday, Marcos said he did not see how Hontiveros’ resolution would translate into action before the UN. — DVM, GMA Integrated News