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http://interaksyon.com/article/1335...es-of-same-threat-to-duterte-over-china-shift
October 22, 2016 10:05 AM
Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada (file)
InterAksyon.com
The online news portal of TV5
MANILA, Philippines -- Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada accused the US Saturday of involvement in his ouster and worried President Rodrigo Duterte could meet the same fate for shifting his foreign policy to favor China over the Americans.
At the same time, he backed Duterte’s professed plans to pursue a foreign policy that would wean the country from dependence on the US.
“‘Yun ang pangamba ko, sa ‘kin nga ginawa, e(That is my worry, it was done to me),”Estrada said in a statement released by the Manila public information office.
The Manila mayor was elected president in 1998 but was booted out of office in January 2001 by an uprising that followed his aborted impeachment trial on corruption charges and replaced by his vice president, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
In the statement, Estrada hinted that the supposed US hand in his ouster had to do with the “all-out war” he declared against the Moro Islamic Liberation Front a year before he was booted from office. At the time, he said, then US Defense Secretary William Cohen wrote asking him to stop the offensive.
“‘Yung laban ko nu’n saMILF, pinakialaman ako, pinatitigil ako(My fight against the MILF, they interfered, they made me stop),” Estrada said. “When they suddenly removed me,pinabayaan nilaMILF, kaya ‘yun, nagtuluy-tuloy pa rin sa pambobomba(they left the MILF alone, so the bombings continued).”
During his recent visit to China, Duterte declared his “separation” from military and economic ties to the US and a realignment with the “ideological flow” of China, adding that he also planned to seek closer ties to Russia.
But returning to the country Friday night, after officials in Manila scrambled to explain his comments, Duterte clarified that he did not intend to severe diplomatic ties with the US but wanted to pursue an independent foreign policy.
Estrada said he understood “where Duterte is coming from” when he declared the “separation” from the US.
“Nararamdaman ko ngayon ‘yung nararamdaman niPresidentDuterte(I feel now what President Duterte feel),” he said.
At the same time, he called Duterte’s position a “difficult” one “that might expose him to political risks such as the US moving to oust him from office.”
Estrada stressed that US aid did not entitle it to interfere in the Philippines’ internal problems.
“We are a sovereign country. We have our own Constitution,” he said.
In contrast, he said China did not interfere in Philippine affairs.
October 22, 2016 10:05 AM
Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada (file)
InterAksyon.com
The online news portal of TV5
MANILA, Philippines -- Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada accused the US Saturday of involvement in his ouster and worried President Rodrigo Duterte could meet the same fate for shifting his foreign policy to favor China over the Americans.
At the same time, he backed Duterte’s professed plans to pursue a foreign policy that would wean the country from dependence on the US.
“‘Yun ang pangamba ko, sa ‘kin nga ginawa, e(That is my worry, it was done to me),”Estrada said in a statement released by the Manila public information office.
The Manila mayor was elected president in 1998 but was booted out of office in January 2001 by an uprising that followed his aborted impeachment trial on corruption charges and replaced by his vice president, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
In the statement, Estrada hinted that the supposed US hand in his ouster had to do with the “all-out war” he declared against the Moro Islamic Liberation Front a year before he was booted from office. At the time, he said, then US Defense Secretary William Cohen wrote asking him to stop the offensive.
“‘Yung laban ko nu’n saMILF, pinakialaman ako, pinatitigil ako(My fight against the MILF, they interfered, they made me stop),” Estrada said. “When they suddenly removed me,pinabayaan nilaMILF, kaya ‘yun, nagtuluy-tuloy pa rin sa pambobomba(they left the MILF alone, so the bombings continued).”
During his recent visit to China, Duterte declared his “separation” from military and economic ties to the US and a realignment with the “ideological flow” of China, adding that he also planned to seek closer ties to Russia.
But returning to the country Friday night, after officials in Manila scrambled to explain his comments, Duterte clarified that he did not intend to severe diplomatic ties with the US but wanted to pursue an independent foreign policy.
Estrada said he understood “where Duterte is coming from” when he declared the “separation” from the US.
“Nararamdaman ko ngayon ‘yung nararamdaman niPresidentDuterte(I feel now what President Duterte feel),” he said.
At the same time, he called Duterte’s position a “difficult” one “that might expose him to political risks such as the US moving to oust him from office.”
Estrada stressed that US aid did not entitle it to interfere in the Philippines’ internal problems.
“We are a sovereign country. We have our own Constitution,” he said.
In contrast, he said China did not interfere in Philippine affairs.
