Digong didn't breach protocol with China trip, says House leader
Former president Rodrigo Duterte (Malacañang photo)
House Deputy Speaker and Batangas City 6th district Rep. Ralph Recto says there's nothing wrong with former president Rodrigo Duterte's recent visit to China. Specifically, Recto said Duterte "did not breach protocol" when he met Chinese premier Xi Jinping in Beijing this week. “This is not the first time a former president has been officially received abroad. Even in their retirement, Presidents [Fidel V.] Ramos and [Gloria Macapaga-] Arroyo got red carpet treatment from foreign leaders,” he pointed out Wednesday, July 19. Duterte’s trip to China has raised some eyebrows from political observers. The administration of Duterte, who was in Malacañang from 2016 to 2022, has been viewed as very friendly toward China. Some of Duterte’s remarks as president has also strained the Philippines relations with the United States (US), China's economic rival. While the current administration of President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. has been friendly to all, it has also been able to bring back the warm relations between Manila and Washington. At any rate, Recto believes that Duterte, in meeting foreign leaders, will always “champion Philippine interests".