MANILA, Philippines —President Rodrigo Duterte merely “dramatized” his stance on the maritime dispute with China when he made the jet ski “joke” in 2016, his chief legal counsel Salvador Panelo said Wednesday, adding that people should “use common sense” to know whether the chief executive is kidding.
Duterte, in a taped speech, admitted that his declaration of riding a jet ski to the Spratly Island to assert Philippine sovereignty was only a “pure campaign joke” and even called those who believed him “stupid.”
“He said that to dramatize the fact that he will not allow China to assault the sovereignty of this country. I think that was clear enough. For me, that was very clear…
Keep on reading: ‘Use common sense’: Panelo says Duterte only ‘dramatized’ sea row stance in jet ski ‘campaign joke’