Gordon: It’s Wrong to Cut Ties with US Due to Alliance With China

Senator Richard Gordon said that it would be wrong for the Philippines to cut its ties with the United States just because of the alliance the country want to get from China.

This was the reaction of the Senator who is part of the majority bloc in the Senate when asked about the statement of President Rodrigo Duterte who indicated that it was time to cut ties with the United States.

While he is on the state visit in Beijing, China, Duterte said it is time to say goodbye.

“I don’t agree with that. I think the President is wrong on that matter,” Gordon said on Thursday.

“We don’t have to leave your old friends that had been reliable, may not be totally reliable, just because you want to get a few things. That’s shortsightedness,” he added.

Gordon emphasized the Philippines should continue striving for an independent foreign policy without being beholden to anyone.

The senator added that Duterte should also keep in mind the best interest of the country whenever he negotiates with other nations, like China.

“In a sense, tama si Justice Carpio (Justice Carpio is right),” Gordon said,

He referred to Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio, who raised the possibility that Duterte could be impeached if he gives up the Philippine’s claim over the Scarborough Shoal, which is inside the exclusive economic zone of the country.

“I agree with him (Carpio) but I don’t think that he can be impeached right away kasi call nya (Duterte) yun e (because it’s his call). Sya ang political officer ng bayan, sya ang naggagawa ng policy (He is the political officer of the nation, he makes the policy).”

“Pero it’s also incumbent upon us in the Senate na payuhan bilang kaibigan, not as an ally, bilang kaibigan na sabihin sa kanya na: ‘Boss, huwag kang magalit, kung magalit ka wala tayo magagawa pero mali yang ginagawa mo (But it’s also incumbent upon us in the Senate to advise him as a friend, not as an ally, to tell him: “Boss, don’t get mad, if you get mad, there’s nothing we can do about it but what you’re doing is wrong).’ And I disagree him on that,” the senator added.

Gordon was asked why the President could not be impeached right away and he said: “Unang-una, mahirap mag impeach e. Pangalawa, pabayaan natin tingnan natin, wala pa namang nangyayari e (First of all, it’s difficult to impeach. Second, let’s wait for now, nothing has happened yet).”