Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. has apologized to the ambassador of China over his expletive-laced tweet against the presence of Chinese ships in local waters.
Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said he spoke to Locsin who mentioned his apology to the Chinese ambassador after losing his temper. Locsin, who recently tweeted that China should get the "f*** out" of local waters, later clarified he apologized to Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, not the ambassador of China to the Philippines.
President Duterte earlier frowned on rude behavior towards China despite the country's lingering dispute in the West Philippine Sea, citing Beijing as a benefactor of the nation.
"Kami ay nagkausap ni Secretary Locsin at ipinaalam niya sa akin na personal siyang nag apologize sa Chinese ambassador at ang nabanggit niyang salita ay dahil lang sa mga bagay-bagay na naging dahilan para uminit ang kamyang ulo (Secretary Locsin and I talked and he told me that he personally apologized to the Chinese ambassador. He said his statement was due to the issues that caused him to lose his cool)," Roque said during a televised press briefing Tuesday, May 4.
"Ang mensahe ng Presidente, sa larangan ng diplomasya, walang lugar ang pagmumura (The President's message is there is no room for expletives in the field of diplomacy)," he said.
Roque admitted that the President's reminder against rude and disrespectful remarks towards CHina stemmed from Locsin's tweet. But he clarified that the President did not ask Locsin to apologize, adding the foreign affairs chief offered the apology on his own.
According to Roque, President Duterte has also reminded Cabinet members to avoid using expletives in their remarks.
"Ang mensahe ng President sa lahat ng miyembro ng Gabinete, ang Presidente lang ang puwedeng magmura. Walang puwedeng gumaya sa kanya (The President's message to all Cabinet members: Only the President can curse. No one else can follow him)," he added.
Locsin earlier told China to "get the f*** out" of the country’s waters, calling China an “ugly oaf” for supposedly forcing its way into Philippine waters. Several Chinese ships remained marooned in the country's waters despite Manila's protests against their presence.
“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,” Locsin tweeted.
Hours after Locsin's tweet, the President addressed the nation and said that the country's dispute with China does not warrant any rude behavior.
"China remains to be our benefactor and just because, if I may just add something to the narrative, just because we have a conflict with China doesn’t mean to say we have to be rude and disrespectful,” Duterte said.
The Palace earlier claimed that Locsin's profanity-laced tweet against China was part of free speech.