AS THE dust begins to settle over the Supreme Court’s unanimous decision striking down the impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte, tensions outside the courtroom are heating up.
Photo by John Carlo Magallon for DAILY TRIBUNE
Vice President Sara Duterte slammed President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. for relying heavily on the United States, claiming it doesn't have a clear independent foreign policy.
According to Duterte, the Constitution clearly states that the Philippines must exercise impartiality when dealing with other countries as far as foreign policy is concerned.
"Nasa Saligang Batas natin 'yun, nasa konstitusyon ‘yun --- na hindi tayo kikiling kahit kanino man na dayuhan para sa ating bayan," she said in her speech during the “Bring FPRRD Home Alive” event in Seoul, South Korea on Sunday.
Earlier, the Vice President expressed her opposition to the proposed construction of an ammunition manufacturing facility in the Philippines — a project floated by an envoy to bolster the defense cooperation between Manila and Washington.
Reports have indicated that US lawmakers are exploring the possibility of building the joint ammunition plant in Subic Bay.
"Pero anong nakikita natin ngayon? Ang nakikita natin ay ang militarisasyon ng ating bayan, ang pagpapasok ng mga Amerikano sa iba't ibang lugar sa ating bansa. Ang paglalagay ng factory ng armas sa ating bansa," Duterte said.
"Kumikiling na ang ating foreign policy papunta sa US. Hindi ko salita ‘yan. Napanood natin iyan na sinabi. Kumiling ang Pilipinas sa Amerika. Hindi tama 'yun kasi ang nakalagay sa ating konstitusyon ay independent foreign policy. Ibig sabihin, hindi ka kikiling. Tatayo ka sa sarili mong paa," she added.
Duterte also said that the government should assert its rights on the West Philippine Sea and bring the issue to Beijing as we have the arbitral award.
"Sinasabi sa atin, atin ang West Philippine Sea. Ang dapat natin gawin, ano? Dalhin ‘yan doon sa Beijing. Pag-usapan natin ito. Amin ang West Philippine Sea. May arbitral award. Hindi 'yung makikipag-girian ka doon sa dagat," she said.
"At anong sabi niya ngayon sa girian ng teritoryo ng Cambodia at Thailand? Ang sabi niya, tutulong ang Pilipinas para magkaroon ng kapayapaan doon. Pero anong ginagawa niya sa bayan natin? Tinutulungan niya ang interest ng dayuhan, interest ng ibang bayan na makipag-girian sa ibang bansa," the Vice President added.
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