'Affront to Philippine sovereignty?': Ortega gives this retort to VP Duterte on her dad's arrest
At A Glance
- House Deputy Majority Leader La Union 1st district Rep . Paolo Ortega V gave a savage response to Vice President Sara Duterte's statement that her father's arrest by the International Police (Interpol) was "a blatant affront" to Philippine sovereignty.
Vice President Sara Duterte (left), La Union 1st district Rep. Paolo Ortega V (PPAB)
House Deputy Majority Leader La Union 1st district Rep . Paolo Ortega V gave a savage response to Vice President Sara Duterte's statement that her father's arrest by the International Police (Interpol) was "a blatant affront" to Philippine sovereignty.
According to Ortega, Vice President Duterte's statement would be the "perfect" reaction to the issue of Chinese incursions in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).
"Siguro yung statement magandang i-copy-paste tapos ang ilagay nila na issue dun sa [WPS] (I think that statement would be good to copy-paste on the issue of the WPS)," he said in a press conference Wednesday, March 12.
"Perfect po yung sagot na yun pag na-copy-paste po tungkol sa WPS (That would be the perfect response to the WPS, if you copy-paste it)," he reiterated.
Ortega’s remarks could be interpreted as having a measure of sarcasm, since Vice President Duterte had previously been crtiicized for not addressing the issue of Chinese bullying and aggression in the WPS.
The Vice President is the daughter of former president Rodrigo Duterte, whose administration is known for its pivot to China. The latter served as Philippine president from 2016 to 2022.
On Tuesday, March 11, the Interpol arrested the elder Duterte in connection with his crimes against humanity charge before the International Criminal Court (ICC).
The lady officer slammed her father's arrest and said, "This is a blatant affront to our sovereignty and an insult to every Filipino who believes in our nation's independence."