Former senator Juan Ponce Enrile backed President Rodrigo Duterte’s foreign policy and his handling of China’s incursions in the West Philippine Sea.
The veteran lawmaker attended the Talk to the Nation of Duterte on Monday to discuss China’s incursions in the disputed territory.
He told Duterte: “Only history will judge you. And I think that history will judge you very well. If I were in your place, I would have — I would have done the same thing. What else can a President of this country do under our present national circumstance?”
He also advised Duterte to keep the country’s “friendly” approach in handling Manila’s the maritime row with Beijing.
Enrile warned that the Philippines “should not give China a reason to attack its core territory.”
“Kaya dapat kailangan na friendly ang approach natin diyan, hindi hard, assertive and aggressive approach. Sapagkat kung hindi tayo magkakaunawaan sa Tsina ay madadamay ang interest ng ating mga kababayan, ang ating ekonomiya, pati na rin ang ating seguridad dito sa usapin na ito,” he pointed out.
Meanwhile, Enrile stressed the importance to develop the country’s defenses so it would not rely on the United States.
“Kaya dapat palakasin din natin ang ating ekonomiya, ang ating puwersa militar. At naintindihan siguro ‘yan ng Tsina sapagkat ‘yan din ang ginagawa nila para sa ganoon ay sila ay manatili na isang bansa na malaya,” he said.
The Philippines has an existing mutual defense treaty with the US.
