Ni Genalyn D. Kabiling, Vanne Elaine P. Terrazola, at Hannah L. Torregoza
Inihayag kahapon ng Malacañang na walang dahilan para magbitiw sa tungkulin si Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano, dahil nananatili ang tiwala rito ni Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte.
Umugong ang panawagan na magbitiw na sa tungkulin si Cayetano kasunod ng krisis ng bansa sa gobyerno ng Kuwait.
“As far as the Palace is concerned, there is no reason for him to resign because I think he still has the full trust and confidence of the President,” sinabi kahapon ni Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque sa press briefing sa Malacañang. “I think what we have in Kuwait is something that can be overcome eventually… sooner or later.”
Ito rin ang pananaw ni Senator Ralph Recto sa usapin, sinabing “wrong” at “no basis” ang nasabing panawagan.
“Why should Alan resign? His men rescued two Filipinas in distress. He didn’t bomb a country, nor did he invade another,” saad sa pahayag ni Recto. “It is wrong to call for his resignation. It undercuts our current posture of being more assertive in helping our OFWs.”
Kasabay nito, sinuportahan naman ni Senator Leila de Lima ang panawagang magbitiw si Cayetano sa DFA.
“The action is unprecedented. This is probably the first time in the country’s history that the Foreign Service officers of the DFA called for the resignation of the Foreign Affairs Secretary,” ani de Lima.
“Secretary Cayetano should listen to them and take heed. The Kuwait fiasco proved that he was way over his head in taking on the job of the nation’s top diplomat,” anang senadora.
