DFA Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano, challenged his critics to attest which features in the South China Sea were "lost" amid President Duterte administration. Cayetano also gave an assurance and guaranteed that the country has not lost a solitary inch of territory to China.
"I challenge anyone of them. Whatever their professions are - justice, politician, newsman, journalist. If we lost a single island during Duterte's time, I will pack my bags, go home and I will not serve the public in any elected or appointed position," - Cayetano said.
This statement of Sec. Cayetano, who is also the country's top diplomat, was made in response to a column published by The STAR entitled "How many islands does Philippines still have?, where in columnist Federico Pascual Jr., said that the "smart answer to the question 'How many islands comprise the Philippines, used to be: 'Depends on whether it's low or high tide.' But now the mindful answer is 'Before or after Duterte?'.
Now, to answer the question, Sec. Cayetano likewise ask if anyone is willing to confront the administration and demonstrate which island highlight or square-inch the country's lost amid Duterte's period and he is willing to show otherwise, what the nation lost in the last administration.
"Are you willing to face this administration, and show us which island feature or inch, square-inch we lost during Duterte’s time? I’m willing to show you what we lost in the last administration," Sec. Cayetano exclaimed.
Cayetano, however, clarified that he is not blaming the Aquino administration for "losing" control of the Scarborough or Panatag Shoal.
"And I'm not blaming the last administration. Ano yan eh, it's dynamics; There were things that happened then," he said.
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