FILE PHOTO: President Benigno Aquino III. (Rey Baniquet / Malacañang Photo Bureau / PCOO)
MANILA, Philippines — Hindi dapat pagkamalian ang ginawang pahayag ni Pangulong Benigno Aquino III sa isang media interview kaugnay ng paghahalintulad nito kay Nazi Leader Adolf Hitler sa nagaganap ngayon na isyu sa disputed territory sa West Philippine Sea.
Ayon kay Presidential Communication and Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Herminio ‘Sonny’ Coloma Jr., panawagan ng pagkakaisa at matuto sa kasaysayan ang naging konteksto ng naging pahayag ng Pangulo.
“’Was to call on the nations that are signatories to the UN Convention to acknowledge the lessons from history and to achieve a certain amount of solidarity in order to ensure that the principles of the rule of law will be upheld. I think that was the main thrust of his comment.”
Ayon pa sa Palasyo, walang dapat ipaliwanag ang Pangulo sa China kaugnay ng naturang isyu.
Ani Coloma, “Nomal lang na paguusap ang naganap between the journalist and the president wala namang compelling reason dapat ipaliwanag ang ating pangulo kahit sa kanino man.”
Nirerespeto naman ng palasyo ang kritisismo kay Pangulong Aquino ng ilang grupo.
“Any newspaper, local or foreign, is free to give their own comments, but we will just remain focused on achieving what is best for our national interest,” saad pa ni Coloma. (Nel Maribojoc / Ruth Navales, UNTV News)