‘Let the old-man off the hook’ – fisherfolk to President Duterte
Manila, Philippines – The militant fisherfolk group Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (PAMALAKAYA) on Thursday urged President Rodrigo Duterte to keep our diplomatic affairs particularly our relations with China off-limits to former President Fidel Ramos.
Former President Ramos has resigned as the country’s special envoy to China after President Duterte’s state visit to Beijing on October 18-21.
The fisherfolk group said Ramos’ resignation as special envoy has something to do with the President Duterte’s consistent tirades against the United States (U.S.) whom the former is a servile lap dog. It is apparent that Ramos and his ilk don’t want to settle the long-dispute in a very peaceful way, but rather, they want it with America’s assistance and guidance which is very far from reality as China has repeatedly warned of the possible implications of U.S. intervention in the issue.
“It’s not the country’s loss in the first place. Ramos’ resignation as special envoy to China was a good riddance for the country’s foreign and diplomatic affairs would be better off without him. As Uncle Sam’s rabid dog, we may not be able to reach this peaceful conclusion with China if we let this issue in the stateside-made hands of Ramos,” Fernando Hicap, PAMALAKAYA Chairperson said in a statement.
President Duterte’s diplomatic conclusion with China bears fruit as the Filipino fishers are now able to return to Scarborough Shoal without them being chased and harassed by the Chinese Coast Guards. But it seems several local U.S. lapdogs are unresolved in the result of this peaceful resolution for they keep fussing over the country’s looming separation from the U.S. dictates.
“We are glad to see the back of Ramos. President Duterte should get rid of people like him regarding our foreign and diplomatic affairs. He better consult no less than the patriotic forces and Filipino people in resolving both the internal and external issues for more holistic patriotic foreign policies,” Hicap ended. ###
