By Sean Rafio
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque floated the idea of having a debate with retired Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonio Carpio and former Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert Del Rosario over issues on the West Philippine Sea.
Roque said the debate should be limited to who lost Scarborough Shoal, and whether President Rodrigo Duterte ignored the Philippines’ arbitral victory against China and gave away Philippine territory.
Duterte recently blamed the administration of his predecessor, former president Benigno Aquino III, for the loss of Scarborough Shoal in 2012 following a standoff with China.
“Justice Carpio and Secretary Del Rosario, see you soon… debate po tayo para malaman ng taumbayan sino nagsasabi ng totoo at sino ang sinungaling,” Roque said.
In a pre-recorded public address Wednesday night, Duterte challenged Carpio to a debate on the territorial dispute, which the latter accepted Thursday.
“On President Duterte’s challenge to debate with me on the West Philippine Sea issue: I gladly accept the challenge anytime at the President’s convenience,” Carpio said in a statement.
Carpio said the debate should focus on three questions:
-Who made the Philippine Navy retreat from the area?
-What did the administration of then-President Benigno Aquino III do about it?
-You filed a case and we won. Can we enforce that?
But on Friday, Duterte backed out on his debate challenge.
Roque said Duterte followed the advice of the Cabinet and Senate President Vicente Sotto III, and Sen. Koko Pimentel to withdraw from the debate challenge citing that this might supposedly compromise national policies and confidential information.
“Handang-handa po sana ang Presidente na dumibate, pero kagabi po tinanggap po niya ang advice ng ilang miyembro ng gabinete, sinusugan po ito ng 2 senador,” Roque said in a Palace presser Friday.
The Cabinet dissuaded Duterte by citing that the debate between the President and the former Supreme Court Justice would be “unfair.”
“Nanindigan po ang mga miyembro ng gabinete na bakit papayag sa debate e nakaupong presidente naman si Presidente Duterte. Si Atty. Antonio Carpio ay ordinaryong abogado na ngayon. Parang hindi naman po tabla na ang Office of the President, Presidente mismo haharap sa isang ordinaryong mambabatas… Parang hindi po patas,” Roque said.
Duterte has appointed Roque to be his representative instead. Roque said he is ready to take the verbal tussle with Carpio.
Roque was a former debate coach of the UP College of Law.
On Friday, Carpio said he will not participate in what Roque wants to debate about, adding that it will just be a useless exercise.
In another statement, Carpio said he will not debate undisputed issues about the Scarborough Shoal and Mischief Reef.
“There is no factual dispute that China seized Scarborough Shoal from the Philippines during the Aquino administration. There is also no factual dispute that China seized Mischief Reef from the Philippines during the Ramos administration. Further, there is no factual or legal dispute that China seized Scarborough Shoal and Mischief Reef in violation of international law,” said Carpio.
Instead, Carpio said he is “ready to debate with the President or anyone he may designate” on the accuracy and legal implications of Duterte’s claim that “China is in possession of West Philippine Sea.”
