President Rodrigo Duterte has issued a gag order on his Cabinet officials regarding the West Philippine Sea issue.
“That’s my order now to the Cabinet and to all, for the government, to refrain from discussing the West Philippine Sea issue with anybody,” Duterte said in a speech on Monday.
“If we have to talk, we talk. Tayo-tayo lang (Let’s do it among ourselves) and there is one spokesman, si Secretary Harry Roque,” he added.
Duterte added that he will ignore the suggestions of his critics in dealing with China concerning the disputed territory.
“They just derail me from my official duties and I will just say that, well, after talking to Senator (Juan Ponce) Enrile, you guys have become irrelevant to me,” Duterte said.
Enrile said that Duterte should no longer respond to his critics.
“You are only responsible to the Filipino people and you are not responsible to any specific people for your foreign policy,” Enrile said.
