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Palace says Pres. Rodrigo Duterte dealing ‘in private’ with China’s dispute over the West Philippine Seas

Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea signed the memo. Listed eight other exceptions, and it also happened to include information covered by Executive privilege, among others.

It looked like President Rodrigo Duterte is finally making a move to settle the country’s long-time dispute with China in the West Philippine Sea—but no one except him and a few close contacts might be privy to what will happen.

“Kung anuman ang ginagawa ng Presidente, hayaan na nating gawin niya ‘yun sa isang pribadong pamamaraan dahil hindi naman po dapat inaanunsiyo sa publiko kung ano ‘yung mga diplomatic initiatives at hakbang na ginagawa ng Pangulo,” said Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque during his virtual press briefing on April 15.

He also stressed that diplomatic negotiations fall under the exceptions of Executive Order (E.O.) No. 2–known as the Freedom of Information Order—though it only applies to the executive branch.

The said exception falls under item 2 of Exceptions to Right of Access to Information. The Office of the President released it on November 24, 2016–the ‘privileged information relating to national security, defense, or international relations.’

To be more specific, it lists diplomatic negotiations “and other information required to be kept secret in the conduct of diplomatic affairs.”

Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea signed the memo. Listed eight other exceptions, and it also happened to include information covered by Executive privilege, among others.

Netizens, however, were not buying Roque’s statement and have gone to the extent of dissecting what Duterte is up to.

One Netizen defined what “privately dealing” means in Filipino.

https://twitter.com/activistblogger/status/1382625186621624321

Journalist Philip Lustre, Jr. called out Roque and asked him to admit that this is a way for the Duterte administration to be not held accountable should anything goes wrong.

Another Netizen [even] highlighted that the issue is something public, hence the need for Filipinos to know exactly what is being done.

https://twitter.com/piessionate/status/1382590946659880965

One Netizen questioned why Malacañang is suddenly invoking the exception and putting a veil of secrecy over what will come of the discussions.

Results of previous discussions between Duterte and Beijing–are also seen clear as day, which baffled this Netizen.

Lastly, this Netizen hits the Administration for resorting to backdoor diplomacy—something which they have used to continuously hit one of their harshest critics: former Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV.

https://twitter.com/norsieology/status/1382610192576090114

However, this move by Duterte is at least a step towards a resolution to the long-time conflict in the West Philippine Sea.

Netizens have never let Duterte see a day when not reminded of one of his campaign promises: to stand up for Filipinos and claim the still-contested West Philippine Sea.

The Irony of it All: AFP recognizes ABS-CBN journo for West PH Sea coverage barely a week after calling the same the news team not exercising prudence?

Netizens laud VP Leni Robredo for her latest initiative as a response to decongest local hospitals due to COVID-19 pandemic