HINDI pa pinag-uusapan sa ngayon kung kailangan na ngang i-abolish o tuluyang lusawin ang tanggapan ng Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO) gaya ng nais na mangyari ni Senador Miriam Defensor Santiago.
“There are no discussions yet at this point about that. As I understand, the discussions between the MECO officials here and their counterparts in Taiwan, while our officials may be here, the discussions continue to be—remain ongoing. Wala pa naman pong napag-uusapan na ganyan,” ayon kay Deputy Presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte.
Mananatili naman bilang Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO) Philippines’ de facto ambassador Antonio Basilio.
“In the interest of being thorough, there are questions raised about the letters that were sent. That’s all that I can say at this particular point, but he continues to be in contact with his counterparts there,” anito.
Ukol naman sa isyu ng pagpapadala ng emisaryo sa Taiwan para plantsahin ang gusot ng Pilipinas sa mga Taiwanese nationals ay sinabi ni Usec. Valte na “I raised this particular point with the President this afternoon, and he said that it would not be prudent for us at this particular time, considering that the investigation on the incident is still ongoing. And to send an emissary at this point—an additional one apart from the ones that we already have—would effectively be forcing that person to engage in speculation, knowing that the investigation is still ongoing. So, again, not at this point.”
Wala namang ideya si Usec. Valte kung ano ang nilalaman ng liham na Basilio na may petsang May 10 kung saan ay malinaw na sinabi nito na ang Taiwan ay magiging bahagi ng joint investigation.
“I was not able to read, the May 10 letter. But—however, I can tell you that only the last letter that was transmitted to them was authorized by the President. And I understand the contents of the letter were very precise and that it was emphasized there, it was made very clear, that the President had already tasked the National Bureau of Investigation which, in our view, has already proven their impartiality in past investigations and their objectivity, again, in past investigations that they have been tasked by the President to undertake,” litaniya nito.
Ipinaubaya naman ni Usec. Valte kay Basilio ang pagsagot kung may go signal ni Pangulong Aquino ang nasabing liham o ginawa lamang nito ang naturang liham.
“I’m, again, reiterating that I have not been able to read the May 10 letter. It would be better for Mr. Basilio to be the one to answer that point. However, what I can tell you clearly is that only the last letter was authorized by the President,” aniya pa rin.
Ipinagkatiwala na ng Malakanyang sa Justice Department ang pagtugon sa hirit ng Taiwanese leader na pumayag ang pamahalaang Pilipinas ng joint investigation sa pagkakapatay sa Taiwanese fisherman.
Sinabi ni Usec. Valte na bahala na ang DoJ sa bagay na ito dahil “We will have to defer to Secretary De Lima. I did see a report saying that we had already agreed to a fact-finding investigation—a fact-finding of sorts—but we have not been able to get confirmation on that yet, also as echoed by Chairman (Amadeo) Perez.”