With the 2022 presidential election fast approaching, former Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert Del Rosario on Thursday called on the Filipino people to choose a leader who will offer good governance and political will and reverse President Duterte’s policy of “loving and embracing” China.
“Therefore, we all need to take action and cause the reversal of this situation. We can do this concretely by participating in next year’s election and selecting a leader who will provide good governance and political will,” Del Rosario said in his remarks at the 1Sambayan town hall meeting.
Del Rosario said the West Philippine Sea is an important national and international issue that requires the attention and help of the entire nation, which Filipinos must consider as “a primary concern” in next year’s political exercise.
The WPS issue, he said, is about a fight for “what is ours,” about the Filipinos’ struggle for national dignity, and about effective leadership and good governance.
Del Rosario, however, lamented that despite the victory of the Philippines in the Arbitral Tribunal in The Hague on July 12, 2016 against China’s expansive claims in the South China Sea, the newly installed President Duterte opted to shelve the ruling in exchange for Beijing’s promised loans and projects.
“This is unacceptable. President Duterte was ‘loving’ and embracing China over and above the interest of the country and its people. Instead of standing up for his own people, the President is tyrannically forcing us to be silent against China’s encroachment of our territory and maritime entitlements. He whom the people has put in power to be the guardian of our interest has willingly and unapologetically cast his lots on the very same country that is disrespecting our country and people,” Del Rosario said.
Contrary to his oath and solemn mandate under the constitution to protect what is ours, Del Rosario said the most honorable thing to do for President Duterte under such circumstances is to consider stepping down.
Del Rosario, who served as DFA secretary under the Aquino administration from 2011 to 2016, also served as Philippine ambassador to the United States during the Arroyo administration. He now chairs a Manila-based think-tank named after him.