Malacañang has kept its distance from the profanity-laced comment of Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. against the lingering presence of Chinese ships in local waters.
According to Presidential spokesman Harry Roque, Locsin's comment on Twitter was part of freedom of speech.
Locsin earlier told China to get out of the country's waters, lamenting its action was apparently harming the friendly ties with the Philippines. The foreign affairs chief also called China an "ugly oaf" for supposedly forcing its way into Philippine waters.
"China, my friend, how politely can I put it? Let me see... O...GET THE FUCK OUT. What are you doing to our friendship? You. Not us. We’re trying. You. You’re like an ugly oaf forcing your attentions on a handsome guy who wants to be a friend; not to father a Chinese province," he tweeted.
"He doesn’t have a uterus. If he tried to give birth to a Chinese province it would be a ball of crap at best and the end of the regime. What is it so hard to understand about Duterte’s UN declaration that the Arbitral Award made all maritime features Philippines; no one else’s?" he added.
https://twitter.com/teddyboylocsin/status/1389021070045290497?s=20
Roque however had no qualms about Locsin's latest tweet.
"Hindi po namin pinanghihimasukan ang karapatan ng malayang pananalita ni Secretary Locsin (We won't meddle with the right of free speech of Secretary Locsin)," he said during a televised press briefing Monday, May 3.
Unlike Locsin's feisty remark, Roque said the Palace remained hopeful China will remove its remaining vessels out of the local waters this month.
Of the 220 vessels initially spotted at the Julian Felipe Reef, he said 201 have already left the area following President Duterte's meeting with Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian. He said this development showed China did not ignore the President's call for the withdrawal of the ships.
"I think that’s 201 fishing vessels po ang umalis ‘no and all because of the message of the President and the warm relations that we enjoy with China," he said.
"Inaasahan natin itong mga buwan na ito na mas marami pang fishing vessels na aalis diyan (We are hoping that this month, more fishing vessels will leave the place)," he added.