DFA chief Locsin already apologized for cussing China: Palace

Malacañang said Tuesday that the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. has apologized to the Chinese government for telling China to “get the f— out” of Philippine waters after Chinese militia vessels were spotted in the West Philippine Sea for several months now.

During a press briefing, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said Locsin said the DFA chief personally apologized to the Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian, noting he talked to Locsin early Tuesday.

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“Personal na pananaw po iyon. Hindi po ito polisiya ng Pilipinas [it is Secretary Locsin’s personal opinion. It’s not the official policy of the government],” Roque said.

Roque said Locsin apologized “on his own” and was not pressured by President Duterte.

“Personal po siyang nag-apologize sa Chinese ambassador. Sa diplomacy, walang lugar ang pagmumura [Secretary Locsin personally apologized. In diplomacy, there is no place for profanities],” Roque added.

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In an address to the public on Monday night, Duterte said the territorial dispute between the Philippines and China is not an excuse for Filipinos to be “rude and disrespectful.”

DFA chief Locsin already apologized for cussing China: Palace

“China remains to be our benefactor and just because, if I may just add something to the narrative, just because we have a conflict with China does not mean to say we have to be rude and disrespectful,” Duterte said in his weekly talk to the people.

“As a matter of fact we have many things to thank China for in the past and itong tulong nila ngayon,” he added.

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The President made the remarks after DFA chief Locsin and Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana issued strong statements against the continued presence of Chinese ships in the West Philippine Sea.

However, Roque was quick to defend that Duterte will not stop his habit of saying expletives in his speeches.

“Sabi ng Presidente sa Gabinete, ang Presidente lang ang puwede magmura [the President told his Cabinet that only the President has the right to curse],” he said.

“Walang puwedeng gumaya sa kanya [nobody should imitate him],” he added.

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