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00:00.1
Maraming nagtatanong po, would the United States actually go to war over something like this?
00:07.0
To be blunt about it, Ambassador, the Chinese do not have any business being in our exclusive economic zone.
00:13.9
Shouldn't that be the starting point?
00:15.3
You're really pushing it, Christian, but I can tell you that clearly, we are not happy with what they're doing.
00:30.0
Magandang araw mga Faxnatics, welcome po sa ating very special episode ngayong araw ng ating Fax First Convos or Conversations.
00:37.3
So for this episode, kasama po natin ang ating ambassador, the Philippine ambassador to Washington, si Ambassador Jose Manuel Bebrum-Waldes.
00:45.4
We'll be talking about a lot of issues, of course, centered and revolving around the issue of the West Philippine Sea,
00:52.2
kung saan paulit-ulit po tayo binubuli at hinaharas ng China.
00:57.0
Magandang araw po, Ambassador Bebrum.
00:58.8
Thank you for joining us.
01:00.0
Thank you for joining us on this Fax First Convo.
01:01.6
I finally get to see you in person, Christian.
01:03.5
Finally in the flesh, Ambassador.
01:05.8
Kumusta po? I suppose you're very busy because of the visit of the State Secretary.
01:10.1
Well, yes, we've had a number of visitors here.
01:13.2
As you know, before that, we had Secretary Gina Raymundo, Commerce Secretary of the United States,
01:18.7
who was here with 22 businessmen.
01:21.5
So that was very significant.
01:23.3
And before that, we had the U.S.-Philippine Society Board that comes here every year.
01:27.4
So a succession of visitors.
01:30.0
Visitors coming from the United States gives it that emphasis on how important our relationship is right now with the United States.
01:37.4
Speaking of this very important relationship between the Philippines and Washington,
01:42.7
a description, latest description is hyperdrive, no?
01:46.4
Is this hyperdrive relations between the Philippines and the United States driven mainly by the threat of coming from China?
01:54.2
Well, you could probably say that.
01:57.1
Pero, alam mo, we've had this relationship with the United States.
01:59.8
They say touch and go, up and down.
02:02.9
But at the end of the day, they really are our oldest ally.
02:06.1
And because we have a very strong Filipino-American community in the United States,
02:10.7
every other Filipino has a relative who actually lives in the United States.
02:15.0
That kind of relationship has been there for such a long time.
02:19.5
Now, it's only rekindling it with all of these challenges that we all face right now.
02:24.6
And right now, obviously, the challenge we have in the West Philippine Sea,
02:28.8
we jibes with the national interest of the United States, which is also our national interest.
02:33.1
So, tama-tama yung pagsasama natin ulit na strengthen our relationship with them at this time.
02:39.4
Let's talk about the timing and the message of that visit by Secretary Blinken.
02:43.5
And of course, may follow pa ito, no?
02:45.1
Magkakaroon po sa April 11 ang Trilateral Summit to be hosted by President Biden.
02:50.1
So, dito, let's talk about the timing.
02:52.2
Why the visit of the Secretary of State, si Anthony Blinken, sa Manila?
02:56.9
Well, Secretary Blinken...
02:58.8
Blinken has been planning to come to the Philippines as a follow-up to his first visit here.
03:04.7
If you remember, he was here just a couple of months after President Marcos took over the presidency.
03:11.2
And he did promise that he wanted to come back here to not only to be able to see where our relationship is
03:18.4
as far as our defense strategy is concerned, but also on the economic side of things.
03:22.4
So, the perfect timing was the fact that Secretary Gina Raymundo came here,
03:26.6
a presidential delegation which was promised by President Biden to President Marcos when he went there last May.
03:34.4
That was really a follow-up with Secretary Blinken, who happened to be also around the area.
03:40.8
So, the timing just went perfectly well for that.
03:44.0
Yung reiteration, sir, no?
03:45.3
Ironclad support coming from the United States when it comes to the Philippines.
03:50.1
How important is that reiteration given the realities that we're seeing now sa West Philippine Sea?
03:55.5
Well, it gives us...
03:56.6
It gives us a lot of comfort to the fact that because precisely of the challenges that we face,
04:02.3
the United States has made it very clear that their commitment to the mutual defense treaty is not only Ironclad,
04:10.7
but I think it is something that is seriously and more emphatically being told to us that they will be there
04:19.4
if and when the time comes that we call upon them to help us in our defense.
04:26.4
So, that's our strategy.
04:27.7
Hopefully, of course, we're hoping that it will never come to that.
04:31.3
But the point of the matter is that this relationship, as I've said,
04:35.3
we've had it, this defense treaty, we've had it since 1951,
04:38.9
is now the wisdom of our leaders in the past, in the 1950s,
04:45.0
is now being very useful for us at this point in time
04:48.8
when we need our friends, not only the United States, but other allies as well.
04:53.5
So, to protect us...
04:56.4
To protect our territorial integrity
04:58.0
and to make sure that like-minded countries band together into pushing back on any aggressor.
05:05.8
Do you think that's the main thing that's stopping China from pushing further in terms of harassing our troops?
05:12.9
Well, you know, for us, what is important is that we simply are really just reiterating
05:21.3
what we've already said from the very beginning,
05:24.2
that our territory is non-negotiable.
05:26.4
In other words, we want to protect our territory.
05:29.9
If we did not have this problem,
05:32.1
our relationship with the United States will continue as it is,
05:35.1
but it will not be as intense.
05:37.4
Precisely because of the intensity of the situation,
05:42.3
we have decided to really strengthen that relationship with the United States
05:46.8
and other allies as well,
05:48.5
to precisely give a message to our friends in the North
05:52.8
that we're serious about this.
05:55.2
We want to sit tight.
05:56.4
We want to sit down and have a peaceful negotiation or peaceful conversation on all of these things.
06:02.1
But for us to stop us from even supplying the Sierra Madre, for instance,
06:10.2
and all of these activities that are happening there,
06:14.2
the harassment is unacceptable to us.
06:17.7
And the Filipino people have spoken.
06:19.7
A majority of our people have already clearly said that they certainly are unhappy with what's going on.
06:23.9
And the Filipino people have spoken. A majority of our people have already clearly said that they certainly are unhappy with what's going on.
06:25.9
And the Filipino people have spoken. A majority of our people have already clearly said that they certainly are unhappy with what's going on.
06:27.4
In fact, the recent survey also shows that even 75% of our people are ready to stand up and fight if they need to,
06:34.4
but we're praying and hoping that this doesn't have to come to that.
06:39.0
We just want to be able to to tell our neighbors that we want to be able to talk peace.
06:41.6
We just want to be able to to tell our neighbors that we want to be able to talk peace.
06:43.3
We want to have peace and stability in our region.
06:45.8
We want to have peace and stability in our region.
06:47.8
We're talking to other claimants and we're having a good conversation with them.
06:50.2
We're talking to other claimants and we're having a good conversation with them.
06:51.9
And all of them agree that we can talk about all of these things.
06:52.6
and all of them agree that we can talk about all of these things.
06:54.4
all of these things. The overlapping claims
06:56.3
in the territories. Ito, ironclad
06:58.4
support coming from the United States
07:00.4
and then they keep reiterating the 1951
07:02.7
Mutual Defense Treaty.
07:04.2
But how far do you think the U.S. would go
07:06.2
to protect or defend the Philippines?
07:10.4
to tell you this.
07:12.4
Having been in the United States for some
07:15.8
not only as the ambassador, but even
07:18.2
before that, I have never seen
07:22.0
of our relationship in the sense
07:24.3
that everything is being
07:29.0
both sides of the aisle. Meaning the
07:32.4
Republicans and the Democrats all
07:34.5
are together with us
07:36.4
when it comes to our
07:37.9
to the arbitral award
07:40.5
that we are given and that they
07:42.4
are definitely against any kind of
07:44.3
aggressive behavior coming from China.
07:46.9
I'll ask about something
07:48.3
very specific because
07:49.5
Secretary Blinken, actually
07:51.9
mentioned in his statement
07:53.4
including those of
07:56.2
its Coast Guard. So, ibig sabihin
07:58.0
pag ginalawin yung ating Coast Guard,
07:59.9
nagkaroon ng armed attack, no?
08:01.7
We don't want that to happen. But if that
08:04.1
happens, maraming nagtatanong po,
08:06.4
would the United States actually
08:08.2
go to war over something like this
08:10.4
with China? You know, going to war
08:12.3
is probably not the
08:14.4
right word for it. The United States
08:17.4
make good their commitment to us
08:21.9
if in the event that anyone of
08:24.3
our, like the Coast Guard
08:26.1
for instance, is harmed or anyone
08:28.2
gets killed or anything, that is
08:31.6
the invocation of the
08:33.5
Mutual Defense Treaty.
08:35.9
But we're trying to avoid that completely.
08:40.0
our Defense Department has said,
08:42.2
we're using maximum
08:43.9
restraint in every way
08:46.2
we can because we're still
08:51.9
our neighbor to the North
08:54.4
will come to their senses
08:56.0
that there is no need to go into this
08:58.1
aggressive behavior. But we will
09:00.1
continue to do what we're doing
09:02.2
which is to supply
09:03.1
our soldiers who are
09:05.3
in the Sierra Madre, in the Ayugan Shoal
09:07.9
and for the rest of the other territories
09:10.1
that we feel is within our rights.
09:12.8
So far, given the realities now
09:14.2
because China is actually pushing the envelope
09:16.4
but within the bounds
09:17.4
of what is acceptable before that
09:20.3
escalates into an armed attack.
09:21.9
I'm talking about the
09:23.5
water cannon attacks on our vessels.
09:26.3
What are the plans for that?
09:27.4
What kind of help
09:30.1
can we get from our allies
09:31.8
like the United States?
09:32.9
Let's not speculate on what kind of help.
09:35.3
The bottom line really is
09:37.0
while we are praying
09:39.9
and hoping that it will never come to that
09:43.8
for me and for many of our
09:45.7
countrymen, I think we can be
09:48.1
assured of the fact
09:50.1
that the United States is not going to back down.
09:51.9
And I'm quite comfortable
09:55.5
because every single day
09:57.3
that I am in Washington, D.C.
09:59.3
and every meeting that I have
10:00.6
it is a serious concern.
10:03.1
It is something that the United States
10:04.5
I've never seen this type of attention
10:07.8
that is being given to this type of
10:09.6
situation that we're in right now.
10:11.8
Not only manifested by
10:13.9
all these visits coming from high officials
10:15.7
but the fact that we are continuing
10:17.4
to have conversations
10:18.6
on how we can avoid any real conflict
10:21.2
but at the same time,
10:22.8
with our commitments
10:24.2
for the Mutual Defense Treaty.
10:26.3
But how about in terms of dealing with this
10:28.2
gray zone tactics of China?
10:30.7
It's very pesky and actually
10:32.0
the last incident injured
10:33.3
a number of Filipinos.
10:36.0
That is why President Marcos
10:38.1
is obviously very concerned about
10:40.2
all of this de-escalation.
10:41.7
So we're finding ways and means
10:43.8
to be able to de-escalate it.
10:45.7
One of them, of course, is that
10:46.9
I think we've already started
10:49.7
our conversations with
10:51.9
the Chinese government.
10:53.2
We've had our undersecretary
10:56.8
and we're hoping to have them
11:02.1
We'll take small steps
11:03.0
towards a resolution
11:04.9
that will be acceptable
11:07.5
How about the threshold or baseline
11:09.0
for any discussion?
11:10.9
Kasi nga, to be blunt about it,
11:13.5
the Chinese do not have any business
11:15.0
being in our exclusive economic zone.
11:18.1
Shouldn't that be a very
11:19.2
shouldn't that be the starting point?
11:21.9
Well, you're really
11:25.1
you're really pushing it, Christian.
11:26.9
But I can tell you that clearly
11:28.4
we are not happy with what they're doing.
11:31.5
So to begin with,
11:33.3
we're pushing back.
11:34.8
We were always in the mode
11:36.4
of trying to appease them.
11:37.8
We're trying to say,
11:38.6
let's talk, let's talk.
11:39.6
Right now, we are very firm.
11:41.7
We will continue to do what we're doing
11:43.6
because this area is our territory.
11:47.3
At the same time, we're offering them
11:50.2
Let's not bring it to a level
11:51.5
that is going to make it
11:53.1
escalate it into a major conflict.
11:56.1
And I think the message is very clear.
11:58.1
So we're trying to find ways and means
12:00.4
to be able to really
12:06.5
for both our countries
12:07.6
that we need to sit down.
12:09.4
It's not about the United States.
12:11.0
It's not about the competition.
12:12.8
It's about what is rightfully ours.
12:18.8
The international law
12:21.5
the arbitration award
12:23.5
that was given to us.
12:26.8
This is where our argument starts.
12:29.0
You recognize that.
12:30.4
They're a signatory to that one.
12:32.2
Then we have at least
12:34.3
a direction of where we're going.
12:36.5
But unless that thing is recognized,
12:41.5
the situation remains the same.
12:44.2
Let's talk about the nuancing
12:46.5
in terms of China's messaging
12:49.8
Diba, dito sa latest visit ni,
12:51.5
ni Secretary Blinken,
12:53.1
sumagot yung Chinese Foreign Ministry.
12:55.9
the United States is not a party
12:58.9
Tapos sinabi rin na,
13:00.3
he has no right to intervene
13:01.9
in the maritime issues
13:04.2
between China and the Philippines.
13:06.0
Di ba parang sila nang papasok
13:08.3
instead of the Philippines doing it?
13:11.2
as the Defense Secretary
13:12.7
Gilbert Todoro said,
13:15.1
they have no business
13:15.9
telling us what to do.
13:18.5
what kind of relationship
13:19.5
they should have with North Korea
13:21.9
we're concerned about that
13:23.9
because of what's happening,
13:25.4
but we're not telling them anything.
13:26.9
They shouldn't tell us either
13:28.0
on what kind of relationship,
13:29.4
who we want to be friends with.
13:31.4
It's as simple as that.
13:33.3
if we have a relationship
13:35.7
with the United States,
13:37.0
we have a defense strategy
13:39.1
it's our business.
13:41.1
It's as simple as that
13:44.7
that's the way it is.
13:45.5
And I think Secretary Todoro
13:47.9
They have no business
13:48.7
telling us what to do.
13:50.3
But why do you think
13:51.5
Why is China so brazen
13:51.9
in terms of framing
13:53.3
the narrative this way?
13:58.9
many of the actions
13:59.8
that they've taken.
14:06.3
the Gulf of Tonkin,
14:09.4
which they're now
14:12.1
so-called territory.
14:13.7
That is a problem,
14:22.9
that we're trying
14:26.9
making all of these
14:30.8
in the international
14:36.7
leave it at peace.
14:38.8
Do not harass us.
14:41.8
any of our territory.
14:42.8
Then we have no problem
14:44.6
For as long as they
14:46.0
what they're doing,
14:46.7
then we have a problem.
14:47.9
And we will continue
14:52.4
I don't know how effective
14:55.0
that would still be.
14:56.5
Yung legally binding
14:58.9
an existing declaration
15:00.2
on the code of conduct,
15:01.3
but it's not binding.
15:03.3
how are we in terms of
15:10.7
international law?
15:11.8
Well, I think the president
15:12.8
has made it clear
15:14.9
that he is reaching out
15:16.1
to the same claimants,
15:25.5
he has reached out
15:27.7
in many of those conversations,
15:30.5
especially with Vietnam,
15:31.9
we all are agreed
15:34.8
to be able to work together
15:36.0
for our maritime security
15:43.7
to regulate fishing.
15:46.3
very important issues
15:48.3
we have to band together,
15:51.8
with competing claims.
15:54.2
the beauty about it
15:55.8
all of these neighbors
15:57.6
to just simply sit down
15:59.0
and talk about this
16:01.7
to be able to have
16:02.5
a resolution to it
16:03.6
in a peaceful way.
16:10.4
that this is ours
16:11.8
and you have no choice.
16:15.0
That's totally unacceptable
16:17.0
of these other countries.
16:18.4
So, we're together
16:21.1
that's what China is doing
16:25.2
dealing with that
16:25.7
particular tactic,
16:28.1
you don't have to talk
16:29.4
about the specifics.
16:30.6
But, what kind of
16:31.5
developments are happening
16:34.6
All I can tell you
16:39.5
approach that we're
16:42.6
Australia, Japan,
16:44.0
and the United States
16:44.9
and some European
16:53.0
And more importantly,
16:56.2
many of our allies
16:57.7
that are prepared
17:00.0
into finding ways
17:01.9
secure our borders,
17:03.3
the territorial waters
17:15.1
from these two countries,
17:27.6
in the ASEAN region,
17:29.8
will be affected.
17:30.8
And this is the message
17:31.7
that we tell all our
17:34.2
If anything happens
17:39.8
Japan realizes that.
17:42.9
which is so far away,
17:45.8
we're in the front line
17:48.2
Island chain yan eh.
17:51.7
immune from this type
17:54.7
So, we have to work
17:56.7
Kailangan magsama-sama
18:08.8
kung ano yung tama eh.
18:11.2
We're not arguing
18:14.1
is the historical right eh.
18:16.4
We're talking here
18:17.2
of what is right.
18:20.2
international law.
18:21.7
validated na yun,
18:23.6
That's what I'm saying.
18:26.1
Well, wala tayong magagawa.
18:27.9
that's what you call,
18:30.3
there's always somebody
18:31.6
in the neighborhood
18:34.1
smaller countries.
18:36.1
Pero pag magsama-sama
18:39.0
the message is clear.
18:40.9
Ano palang update,
18:44.7
The last time we talked,
18:47.4
idaan sa third party?
18:50.2
we're trying to push
18:51.5
yung procurement law
18:55.1
Kasi in the procurement law,
18:59.3
for our armed forces,
19:04.1
an aspiration eh.
19:06.5
a brand new F-16.
19:10.1
ang mabibili natin yan,
19:11.7
with the kind of budget
19:15.6
where the F-16s are,
19:20.1
which is probably
19:24.4
that the United States
19:25.1
is working with us.
19:29.4
with the kind of budget
19:31.0
Two versus twelve.
19:32.6
Tutulungan pa tayo
19:38.4
the purchase of that.
19:42.0
naka-stoppel ngayon eh.
19:49.6
so that we'll be able
19:53.4
that is going to be
19:56.2
in the works now?
19:58.1
the last time I spoke
20:04.8
filed a resolution,
20:06.4
through a committee
20:07.6
and then after that
20:09.4
discuss it in the plenary
20:11.2
they can change that
20:12.7
as soon as possible.
20:14.2
Kailan ang target niyo,
20:15.3
yung sariling time frame
20:16.6
in terms of procuring
20:19.5
we don't even know
20:20.4
whether the dozen
20:21.3
F-16s are still available
20:30.7
affordable for us
20:32.0
to be able to buy
20:32.8
many of the equipment
20:33.5
that we'd like to have,
20:42.0
and the most expensive
20:46.9
all of these things
20:56.0
it's like you buy
20:57.5
you can upgrade it.
21:02.2
The F-16s have been
21:03.1
around for a long time
21:04.1
but they can upgrade it
21:12.9
that goes with it,
21:16.8
Kaya kailangan natin
21:19.7
meron naman po yung
21:21.6
coming from the Philippines.
21:23.3
Siguro hindi naman ganito
21:24.2
yung sobrang tagal
21:32.5
Like, for instance,
21:33.5
yung mga helicopter
21:34.2
na binibigay sa atin
21:44.0
Sikorsky helicopters
21:45.1
that was delivered
21:50.0
considered brand new
21:58.9
with all of these
22:00.2
that we're trying
22:08.4
territorial water,
22:11.4
something like that.
22:13.2
I forgot the figure
22:15.3
pero meron tayong
22:22.5
How much is that?
22:23.2
I forgot the term.
22:25.8
in the coming years?
22:26.9
Well, I can't say
22:28.6
but all I can tell you
22:29.5
is that over the past
22:42.5
and all of these things.
22:51.7
Hindi naman pwede yung
22:52.8
we just make a wish list
22:54.5
o bigyan ninyo sa amin
22:56.0
Hindi ang bibigyan sa amin.
23:01.7
nandyan yung equipment.
23:07.8
Kailangan may training
23:08.9
There's a three to
23:09.7
six month training
23:19.0
you can just go into
23:20.9
you fly the aircraft.
23:22.7
You away with it.
23:23.9
An example of that,
23:25.0
remember what happened
23:26.5
They've been asking
23:27.0
for this aircraft.
23:32.7
the maneuverability
23:33.6
of these fighter jets
23:34.8
is totally different
23:36.5
from a regular jet.
23:40.3
have to be programmed.
23:41.9
Kasama dyan yung mga
23:42.7
in terms of support,
23:44.6
and other equipment.
23:45.7
Well, there's a lot of that,
23:48.2
surveillance equipment,
23:49.4
we've been getting
23:50.2
quite a bit of that
23:51.1
already right now.
23:51.9
Kaya real-time yung ating
23:53.0
mga ginagawa natin
23:55.0
yung surveillance,
23:57.1
our territorial waters,
24:01.4
where we still have
24:02.6
areas where there's
24:06.5
surveillance equipment
24:07.8
that was supplied to us
24:09.0
not only by the United States
24:10.2
but other countries as well.
24:11.9
Israel is one other country
24:16.0
a lot of equipment.
24:19.1
has been quite good.
24:20.9
So, we have a better view
24:21.8
or vision of what's happening
24:23.4
in the Philippines Sea.
24:25.1
And we're working together
24:26.0
with the United States.
24:27.2
So, in other words,
24:29.9
is now real-time.
24:31.7
this happened two days ago.
24:33.8
Ngayon, nakikita na natin
24:35.6
everything that's happening.
24:36.8
How about yung other front?
24:39.0
merong obvious harassment
24:40.2
physical coming from China.
24:42.0
How about the other
24:42.9
more problematic aspect
24:46.2
which is propaganda?
24:47.7
influence operations,
24:49.3
are we also coordinating,
24:50.7
cooperating with the US
24:52.8
Well, on the cybercrime,
24:54.6
under the cyber security,
24:57.2
we definitely are working
24:58.4
with many countries now
25:01.4
Because that's where
25:02.4
they are trying to
25:03.4
hack into our system
25:05.1
and then they twist it
25:07.1
and make it appear
25:08.2
as if it's something else.
25:10.7
And then, of course,
25:13.4
consequence of that.
25:15.6
So, we're working
25:16.7
closely with a lot
25:17.5
of other countries.
25:19.4
Pero, meron bang ano dyan?
25:20.6
Parang clear strategy
25:24.5
And among the strategy
25:25.7
that we have already
25:29.2
is something that
25:35.1
is to be able to expand it
25:39.5
including other countries.
25:41.4
It's very important
25:42.3
for us to understand
25:43.3
that like what's happening
25:45.1
right now in Ukraine,
25:47.7
Ukraine will not be able
25:50.1
to what's happening there
25:52.7
with the aggression
25:54.0
if they did not have NATO.
25:58.9
they were not as prepared
25:59.9
as they are today.
26:01.9
that they're getting
26:02.5
from the NATO countries
26:11.1
it's the same model,
26:12.7
the similar situation
26:14.4
and other countries as well.
26:16.2
So we need to have
26:17.0
a multilateral approach
26:18.4
to all the things
26:20.0
on the defense strategy.
26:21.8
a military alliance.
26:23.1
It is an alliance
26:25.5
that we can understand,
26:28.2
especially Australia and Japan,
26:31.0
because they're feeling it also.
26:33.9
anything happens to us,
26:35.3
it will affect them.
26:37.5
the other ASEAN countries
26:38.6
must understand also.
26:41.0
You cannot be immune
26:43.5
But is that also translated
26:47.0
influence operations?
26:49.3
Whatever it takes
26:51.6
set the record straight,
26:53.1
for lack of any other word to say,
26:55.0
we just want to make sure
26:56.1
that whatever information
26:58.9
is the accurate information.
27:00.8
You cannot fool around
27:02.0
with a surveillance video
27:05.8
that shows exactly
27:07.5
that's taking place.
27:08.5
You can say anything you want,
27:10.4
but the video says it all.
27:13.4
we're doing right now.
27:14.3
That's what we call
27:20.9
our Philippine Coast Guard,
27:22.4
is doing right now.
27:23.7
Yung National Task Force
27:25.0
on the West Philippines.
27:26.1
I think that's a strategy, no?
27:27.8
So it's a whole-of-government approach.
27:29.7
Whole-of-government approach,
27:30.8
which is very important,
27:32.4
Matanong ko pala kay Ambassador,
27:33.6
because you were also
27:35.0
during the Riterte administration.
27:37.3
I've been observing
27:37.9
your pronouncements.
27:40.9
breath of fresh air ngayon?
27:42.8
You can speak more freely
27:43.8
about what is right
27:45.0
in the West Philippines?
27:47.1
Well, let's put it this way.
27:50.5
being an ambassador
27:51.2
and you're appointed,
27:52.7
by the President,
27:54.7
what his thinking is.
27:56.9
So my understanding
27:59.2
of then-President Duterte
28:00.6
was we want to approach
28:02.2
this whole problem
28:04.0
in a different way,
28:04.9
which is basically
28:05.6
to continue to talk to them.
28:07.3
there was no communication
28:10.9
in the UNCLOS, no?
28:13.6
no high-level communication
28:17.0
So President Duterte
28:17.9
changed the tact.
28:20.9
and let's talk about it.
28:22.4
Let's allow things,
28:23.5
let's allow our fishermen
28:26.9
And perhaps at that time,
28:31.7
that peaceful coexistence.
28:36.2
continuous pa rin
28:39.7
that they own this area.
28:42.0
from 9 naging 10,
28:46.8
yan ang pwede natin
28:49.5
Hindi yata ganyan
28:50.3
ang usapan natin.
28:51.5
I mean, you know,
28:52.0
you have to respect
28:52.7
whatever our territory is,
28:55.4
which is given to us
28:57.0
by the arbitrarial ward.
29:01.4
that's where we're starting
29:04.3
now with President Marcos.
29:06.7
His pronouncement is
29:08.5
give up one inch,
29:11.8
of our territory,
29:12.8
which is correct.
29:13.9
Because it's in our
29:16.7
The President of the
29:17.5
Republic of the Philippines
29:21.9
of the Philippines
29:27.2
If he does otherwise,
29:29.7
constitutionally.
29:32.3
a certain frustration
29:33.3
noong time na yun
29:34.0
that you couldn't
29:35.3
talk about these things?
29:36.3
Alam mo, not really.
29:39.7
when you're a diplomat,
29:42.6
as best as you can,
29:43.6
to try to interpret
29:45.0
what the foreign policy
29:46.7
of the President is,
29:50.4
So, you interpret it
29:53.9
which is the United States,
29:56.5
what we're trying to do.
29:58.5
to a certain extent,
29:59.8
naiintindihan rin nila.
30:01.7
The only problem,
30:02.9
was when we started
30:06.0
when President Duterte
30:08.6
the visiting forces.
30:09.8
That was a big thing
30:11.0
for the United States.
30:11.8
Kasi, that's very important
30:12.8
in their whole strategy also.
30:15.0
EDCA was in trouble.
30:16.3
EDCA also was in trouble.
30:21.1
one of the challenging times.
30:23.7
maybe it's an act of God.
30:26.2
Nagkaroon ng pandemic.
30:27.8
The pandemic was something
30:29.3
that nobody expected.
30:34.7
like the United States
30:35.8
who obviously had
30:37.2
the kind of vaccines
30:46.2
I had to tell the President
30:55.4
200 plus countries
30:56.5
who want the same thing.
30:58.7
pag magkaibigan kayo,
31:00.5
hindi unahin nila
31:01.3
yung mga kanilang allies.
31:02.7
E, medyo na wala tayo
31:04.8
Kailangan tayo bumalik
31:07.1
Nahirapan ba kayo
31:07.9
bumalik sa linya?
31:08.6
To a certain extent,
31:12.1
I don't want to really
31:13.1
make a big thing out of it.
31:15.0
I had a challenge.
31:16.5
I had to go to the White House.
31:17.9
I practically had to beg
31:22.4
marami tayong mga kaibigan
31:23.8
that were calling
31:25.0
magkakaroon ng vaccine
31:26.0
because everybody
31:27.2
was waiting for it.
31:31.6
that was being given
31:32.7
to us in the beginning
31:33.6
but for some reason
31:34.9
hindi nating tinuloy yun.
31:37.7
nakuha ng Singapore.
31:41.6
meron akong isang kaibigan
31:43.2
kung dumating yung Pfizer,
31:48.7
may emotional feeling
31:50.9
We're feeling bad about it.
31:55.6
in the United States
31:56.3
na tulungan ninyo kami
31:57.3
because this will go a long way.
31:58.7
We need your help
32:00.1
because it's our people
32:01.4
already that are suffering.
32:04.6
kay President Duterte,
32:07.4
to work with them.
32:09.6
Not so many words.
32:17.5
They will never tell you,
32:18.9
you give us this,
32:19.9
you'll give you that.
32:21.0
there's always that.
32:23.6
that's reality of life.
32:25.2
There's no such thing
32:27.1
Kumagalam nyo na?
32:33.2
bend the White House,
32:35.8
things were smooth?
32:41.0
President Duterte,
32:42.1
he acted immediately
32:44.3
that it's important
32:45.9
to get those vaccines.
32:47.9
the sooner we signed up,
32:49.9
the better for us.
32:50.9
Ito rin ba yung time
32:51.5
ambassador na medyo parang
32:52.8
nag-lilo si President Duterte
32:54.5
sa mga banat niya
32:58.5
that could have been
33:05.2
namamatay yung mga tao,
33:08.8
hindi mo na iisipin
33:15.9
any arms that we need?
33:19.0
pinag-uusapan natin, eh.
33:21.8
he understood very clearly
33:23.9
the United States
33:24.9
is one of the main
33:25.9
suppliers for this,
33:28.6
this important vaccine,
33:30.6
which is not available
33:34.0
European countries.
33:37.0
we had to get it.
33:38.3
Yung initial challenge
33:40.3
when the President,
33:41.4
then President Duterte
33:44.3
Parang sabi niya,
33:45.8
alista kami sa US,
33:46.8
pupunta kami sa fold,
33:48.6
how difficult was it
33:50.7
communicate or explain
33:52.7
that with your hosts?
33:55.1
I did not have to
33:56.0
explain anything.
33:57.0
The fact of the matter is
33:58.9
that President Duterte
34:01.0
towards the United States.
34:02.3
They felt that way.
34:04.5
they accepted it.
34:07.7
as the President told me,
34:08.7
just do your job.
34:11.5
I understood that
34:15.8
to be able to assure
34:16.7
our friends in the United States
34:17.9
that the relationship continues
34:20.7
We will do our best
34:25.6
where our friendship
34:27.6
even if we're trying
34:29.0
as our policy then
34:30.6
was friends to all
34:31.9
and enemies to none.
34:34.0
Pero hindi naman tayo
34:34.9
naghahanap ng enemy.
34:36.2
Tayong ginagawang enemy.
34:41.8
there's no question about it.
34:43.5
And everybody understands
34:48.1
is one that is being aggressive.
34:51.0
If you stop being aggressive,
34:52.2
then you are a threat.
34:55.5
fast forward 2024,
34:57.3
when President Marcos
34:58.6
assumed office in 2022,
35:00.9
marami rin nagulat eh.
35:02.1
Because they thought
35:03.0
he would continue
35:03.7
the policy toward China
35:04.9
by President Duterte,
35:06.9
it turned out ibang-iba.
35:08.0
And this is the right policy.
35:10.2
ang banat naman sa kanya
35:11.1
ng mga pro-Duterte forces,
35:12.3
especially online,
35:14.4
ano bang gusto nito?
35:16.2
Parang dinadala tayo sa gera.
35:17.9
how do you respond
35:19.2
to that narrative?
35:20.4
I think that that is
35:21.5
a complete misnomer
35:25.4
I know President Marcos
35:32.8
hinanakit sa Amerika,
35:34.6
it is the Marcos family
35:35.7
because of what happened
35:38.7
from the very beginning,
35:39.6
sinabi na sa akin
35:40.3
ni President Marcos Jr.
35:42.6
I am not going to
35:43.2
I am not going to
35:43.9
make decisions based
35:45.0
on my personal feelings.
35:49.5
and our national interest.
35:50.9
And that's exactly
35:51.5
what he's doing right now.
35:56.1
I'm not saying this
35:57.4
because I'm his ambassador.
36:00.6
because this is what
36:01.5
the international community
36:11.8
all over the world.
36:13.2
The President Marcos?
36:14.0
President Marcos.
36:15.6
Because of what he's doing
36:17.4
Standing up to what is correct
36:19.1
and what is right.
36:21.0
baggage ng family history?
36:24.4
the baggage is something
36:26.8
it's a question of
36:33.4
I always tell people,
36:35.4
President Marcos Jr.
36:37.6
to rewrite history.
36:40.2
He is writing history
36:48.1
are saying the same thing.
36:49.3
So he's not rewriting the...
36:50.6
He's not rewriting what...
36:51.7
That's up to people
36:54.2
interpret what history
36:56.6
What you're doing
36:57.6
is what you're making
36:58.4
history right now.
36:59.9
That's what's important.
37:03.4
Rewriting history
37:04.4
is something that is,
37:05.8
as President Nixon
37:09.4
history is written
37:13.2
You know what I mean?
37:15.4
They write history.
37:18.2
But history is written
37:20.8
that are living it.
37:22.4
Noong anumala, sir.
37:23.9
before the results
37:24.8
of the 2022 elections,
37:27.2
minamonitorian ng mga bansa,
37:28.6
including Washington.
37:30.1
In your conversations,
37:31.6
was it a pronounced issue?
37:34.2
dun sa leading candidate?
37:36.0
Or even after he won?
37:37.6
What do you mean?
37:39.7
for the Americans?
37:42.5
for the Americans
37:44.5
his policy would be.
37:49.4
exactly what the President said.
37:51.0
I am not going to make decisions
37:52.6
based on my personal feelings.
37:54.7
It will be based on
37:55.7
what I think is best
37:57.8
And that's exactly
37:60.0
sa ta-Ambassador.
38:01.3
another appointment.
38:03.7
making up for lost time,
38:06.0
kung tinatanong ko
38:06.6
sa mga nakakausap ko,
38:08.0
because six years
38:10.9
handling the China
38:13.9
dealing with the United States.
38:15.8
Mahirap ba ngayon
38:16.6
na you have to make up
38:18.0
for those six years
38:21.1
Which didn't exactly work?
38:27.7
everything that you can.
38:29.6
And the most important thing
38:31.2
you try to keep the peace.
38:34.3
Diplomacy will only work
38:41.0
maybe armed conflict.
38:43.1
that is where we are.
38:45.0
every means that we have
38:46.4
in our diplomatic arsenal
38:48.5
to be able to find ways
38:50.4
and means to be able
38:51.3
to keep the peace
38:53.9
what we're doing right now.
38:55.6
That is what I did
38:57.5
that's what I am doing
38:59.7
I will continue to do so
39:01.3
for as long as the President
39:02.6
wants me to serve
39:03.5
as his ambassador
39:04.1
to Washington, D.C.
39:06.8
can you speak with
39:07.8
the ordinary Filipinos
39:09.1
as to how important
39:10.8
this fight for the
39:12.1
best Philippines is?
39:13.1
Especially in the face
39:14.8
Chinese disinformation
39:18.4
all I can tell our
39:21.6
we're facing very
39:23.2
serious challenges today.
39:26.1
kailangang magsama-sama tayo
39:27.9
at the end of the day,
39:30.9
we just want to be able
39:32.0
to have our peace
39:35.8
And most importantly,
39:37.5
yung mga fishermen natin
39:41.5
they must be able
39:43.4
they've been doing
39:44.0
for hundreds of years.
39:46.0
Yun lang naman ang atin eh.
39:47.2
Hindi naman tayo,
39:47.9
we're not trying to hanker
39:48.9
to be able to expand
39:50.7
or anything like that.
39:51.7
We are just protecting
39:54.1
and we have to be
39:56.6
And I'm very confident
39:58.4
that 90% of our people
40:00.6
understand this very well.
40:03.1
And they know that
40:04.8
is the right thing.
40:05.9
And we will continue
40:07.3
to protect our people
40:11.5
Ambassador David M. Walden,
40:12.6
thank you very much
40:14.2
Thank you also, Christian.
40:15.2
Very nice to see you
40:16.2
and congratulations
40:20.2
Yan po, si Ambassador
40:22.0
nakasama po natin
40:22.9
sa ating Faxpress Convo.
40:25.0
Maraming maraming salamat po
40:26.3
for joining us today.
