Only SFA Teddy Locsin and myself can speak on WPS issue – Harry Roque

By Prince Golez

Only Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. and himself can speak on the West Philippine Sea (WPS), Palace Spokesman Harry Roque said Tuesday.

Roque made the statement after President Rodrigo Duterte ordered his Cabinet officials yesterday to refrain from talking about the WPS issue in public.

“The instruction of the President was clear. Only the Secretary of Foreign Affairs and myself can speak on the issue now,” the Palace official said in a virtual presser.

When asked if the National Task Force (NTF) for the West Philippine Sea can still issue press statements about the disputed region, he told reporters: “Reports of NTF are forwarded to the DFA and they would determine if they will diplomatic protests.

“These are matters, facts which are relevant to diplomatic communications covered by executive privilege. Although there is transparency, an exception to transparency are diplomatic communications and that includes also inputs which form the basis of diplomatic communication.”

Last March, the NTF cited a report of the Philippine Coast Guard that more than 200 Chinese vessels swarmed Julian Felipe Reef in the Kalayaan Group of Islands of Palawan province.

The Department of Foreign Affairs have lodged diplomatic protests with China denouncing the continued presence of Chinese ships at the reef.

Source: Latest Politics News Today (Politics.com.ph)