President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday said he was not scared of retired Supreme Court justice Antonio Carpio, who accepted his dare for a debate on the West Philippine Sea.
Duterte said he could not engage in a debate since any statement he makes could be taken as a policy statement. He explained that he "forgot" that he was president, and not Carpio.
"Ang problema lang kasi dati nakalimutan ko na si Carpio ang hindi ang presidente, ako. Eh policy statement kung ano ang itanong niya, masasabi ko and I might bind future actions of government pagdating dito sa West Philippine Sea," Duterte said in a public address.
"Hind ako takot sa iyo, ng probema hindi ko nga alam na hindi ka presidente," he added.
An incensed Duterte publicly challenged Carpio, a staunch advocate of Manila's rights in the West Philippine Sea, to a debate last week as the chief executive blamed the administration of his predecessor, Benigno Aquino III, over the Philippines' loss of Scarborough Shoal to China.
The President alleged that Carpio, and former Foreign Affairs Sec. Alberto del Rosario were involved in the withdrawal of Philippine ships stationed in the area.
Carpio accepted the dare but was told a day later that the President has assigned his spokesperson Harry Roque to represent him at the debate.
"It's not because I'm afraid of debates, ilang debate na ang dinaanan ko noong eleksyon--araw-araw halos," the President said.
Duterte is facing criticism for his handling of the country's maritime dispute with China as Beijing's ships continue to linger within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone despite Manila's repeated protests.
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