MANILA, Philippines — Solicitor General Jose Calida on Monday told critics of the government’s efforts on protecting the West Philippine Sea that they should become the president first before giving their opinions. Speaking on CNN Philippines’ “The Source,” Calida stressed that enforcing the arbitral ruling falls under the discretion and powers of the president. “You know this is a matter of foreign relations and under our laws and Constitution, the chief architect of foreign policy is President Rodrigo Roa Duterte and not any interloper who probably wants to be president,” the government’s chief lawyer said. “He should be president before he contests what the chief architect of foreign policy is doing. Since his election as president, the firebrand leader has taken to adopting a friendlier stance with Beijing.

Source: Philippine Star July 15, 2019 03:22 UTC