The word war between President Rodrigo Duterte and retired Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio on the West Philippine Sea issue has triggered a series of events from the debate dare to the ‘pointless’ and ‘useless exercise’ remarks when the president backed out of the debate.
Here’s a timeline of the events:
May 3 — President Duterte, during his evening address to the Filipino public, said that he never promised to retake the West Philippine Sea from China during his 2016 presidential bid.
“I never, never, in my campaign as President, promise the people that I would re-take the West Philippine Sea. I did not promise that I would pressure China. I never promised anything. Just because I’m President, gusto n’yong makipag-away ako,” said Duterte.
May 4 — The following day, Filipino netizens shared clips of Duterte during a presidential debate in 2016 when he promised to go to the disputed territory using a jet ski.
“Bababa ako at sasakay ako ng jetski, dala-dala ko ang flag ng Filipino at pupunta ako dun sa airport ng China tapos itanim ko. I will say, this is ours and do what you want with me,” he said.
May 4 — On the same day, Carpio accused the president of committing ‘grand estafa’, and stressed that if Duterte doesn’t admit that he did such remarks during the presidential debate, he would be making a fool out of the millions of voters who believed in him.
“President Duterte cannot now say that he never discussed or mentioned the West Philippine Sea issue when he was campaigning for President. Otherwise, he would be admitting that he was fooling the Filipino people big time. There is a term for that – grand estafa or grand larceny. Making a false promise to get 16 million votes,” said Carpio.
May 5 — Duterte, in a pre-recorded address on Wednesday evening, said that former Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert Del Rosario and Carpio were involved in the withdrawal of ships in Scarborough Shoal.
It was during this address when Duterte publicly announced that he will resign immediately if it would be proven that he was lying.
The president also said that the two former officials may be investigated for their role in China’s occupation of some island in the West Philippine Sea during the Aquino administration.
“That’s the truth, my countrymen. You can ask any lawyer. That’s what happened. Now, if I’m lying, then I would resign—immediately, tomorrow,” Duterte said.
May 5 — In the same evening, Duterte dared retired Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio for a debate on the West Philippine Sea issue. The president said had only two or three questions for Carpio: “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?
“This Carpio, he keeps writing about the decision but it’s all for his own mind. He’s stupid. So you were a Supreme Court justice? We’re both lawyers. You want us to debate? Nag-file sila ng kaso, nanalo tayo. ‘Yang papel, sa totoong buhay, between nations, ‘yang papel, wala ‘yan,” said Duterte.
May 6 — Carpio denied involvement in the withdrawal of Philippine Navy ships during the 2012 standoff at Scarborough, stating that he only learned about it in the newspapers.
“I state under oath that I was never involved in the decision to withdraw Philippine Navy ships from the West Philippine Sea during the 2012 Scarborough standoff,”
He also accepted Duterte’s challenge for a debate: “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,”
May 6 — On the same day, Rico Domingo, president of the Philippine Bar Association, said that they are ready to host the debate on such date and time as the President and Justice Carpio may agree.
“As the oldest voluntary private organization of lawyers in the country, the PBA will provide a balanced arena fit for two lawyers of eminent stature and experience to dispassionately discuss the core issues relating to the dispute on the West Philippine Sea,” the statement read.
May 7 — Duterte then backed out from his challenge to debate with Carpio and assigned Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque instead to do the debate for him.
“Ang sabi po ni Presidente, tinatalaga nya po ang inyong abang lingkod na makipag debate kay retired Justice Antonio Carpio. Tinanggap ko naman po ang pagtatalaga ni Presidente. Parang hindi naman po ata tabla na ang Office of the President, ang Presidente mismo ay haharap sa isang ordinaryong mambabatas. Parang hindi po patas,” Roque said.
May 8 — Carpio declined to participate in the debate against Roque, on the grounds that it would be useless as the points of discussions are already factual and will confuse the public on the real, outstanding issue.
“I accepted the President’s challenge without any conditions. Now the President has backed out of his personal challenge to me without giving a definite reason. Instead, he has designated his spokesperson Harry Roque to debate with me on the issue of what administration lost Scarborough Shoal and Mischief Reef to China,” said Carpio.
He added: “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.”
The retired senior associate justice then deduced that doing the debate against Roque will be a ‘pointless, useless exercise’..
“Hence, it is pointless to debate about Scarborough Shoal and Mischief Reef. I will not engage in a useless exercise that will only detract the public’s interest on the vital outstanding issues on the West Philippines Sea, like the President’s continuing false claim that ‘China is in possession of the West Philippine Sea,,” said Carpio.
