Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque told former Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario to keep his mouth shut about the West Philippine Sea issue as he was the "traitor" who gave away the country's territory to China and not President Duterte.
Roque made the statement after Del Rosario said Duterte betrayed the Constitution by setting aside the 2016 Permanent Court of Arbitration ruling that favored the Philippines' claim on the West Philippine Sea.
In his press briefing on Monday, July 12, the fifth anniversary of the landmark ruling, Roque dismissed Del Rosario's remarks, saying he was the one who betrayed the country and not Duterte.
"Kalokohan po 'yan (That's nonsense) coming from a proven traitor," he said.
"Siya po ang nagpaalis sa ating mga kasundaluhan sa Borough na naging dahilan na ang Tsina na lang ang natira sa Borough (He was the one who called back the soldiers at the Scarborough Shoal that allowed China to stay there)," he added, referring to the 2012 standoff in the area.
According to Roque, Del Rosario should just shut up because he was the one responsible for the Philippines losing its territory.
"Mr. Del Rosario, if you want to talk about who the real traitor is, ikaw yun. Ikaw ang namigay ng teritoryo sa Tsina (That's you. You were the one who gave away our territory to China)," he said.
"Habang hindi ka makapagpakita ng teritoryo na binigay ng Presidente Duterte sa ibang bansa, manahimik ka diyan. Ikaw nga ang may pananagutan diyan (Until you are able to show proof that President Duterte gave away our territory to other countries, you should shut up. That's your fault)," he added.
"Mangilabot ka naman sa mga sinasabi mo. Ikaw 'yang namigay ng teritoryo, eh. Mahiya ka sa sarili mo (Your remarks should creep you out. You gave away our territory. You should be ashamed)," he continued.
Meanwhile, the Palace official called on other lawyers to see if Del Rosario could be held liable for what happened in 2012.
"I enjoin lawyers and other groups to study the legal liability of Albert Del Rosario in ceding Scarborough Shoal to China," Roque said.
President Duterte has blamed the past administration for pulling out Philippine ships from Panatag Shoal during a standoff with China in 2012. In May this year, he said the Philippines would not have any problem if Del Rosario had not ordered the pull out of the Philippine ships.
According to the President, when local ships moved out supposedly upon the intervention of the United States, China did not budge and effectively took possession of the territory.
"Sino ang nagbigay ng possession ng China sa West Philippine Sea? Sila. Kung hindi sila umalis, walang problema (Who were the ones who gave China possession of the West Philippine Sea? It was them. If they did not leave, we won't have this problem)," he said.