The Philippines has filed 35 “diplomatic actions” under the leadership of Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano, an official said on Tuesday.
He did not specify which countries were served diplomatic actions and on what issues, But Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Ernesto Abella said the Philippines had taken a total of 85 “diplomatic actions on that issue” over the disputed South China Sea.
“Having said that, we need to underline that since President Duterte assumed office, the Philippines has engaged in 85 diplomatic actions, 35 of which were undertaken by Secretary Alan Peter S. Cayetano,” Abella said in a statement.
He made the statement after Magdalo Rep. Gary Alejano criticized Cayetano for allegedly filing “only one” protest against China.
Abella had no comment when asked what issue the Philippines had raised some diplomatic action.
“It is important to understand that in diplomatic engagement, it is the content that matters, in whatever form it is conveyed,” Abella said.
He said that under Cayetano’s leadership, the Philippines asserted its right at various times through bilatetal consultations, in face to face meetings and in written documents.
Cayetano was quoted recently as saying that the majority of the country’s diplomatic actions had been done “verbally.”
Abella said the Duterte administration will protect the interest of the country.
“Let me be clear that the Department of Foreign Affairs fully supports the policy of the President that the Philippines will continue to fight for its rights in the South China Sea, and the statement of the Secretary of Foreign Affairs that the ‘Philippines will not give up a single inch of its territory in the South China Sea’,” Abella said.