Retired Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonio Carpio on Thursday 'gladly' accepted the dare of President Rodrigo Duterte to debate over the issues surrounding the West Philippine Sea.
"I gladly accept the challenge anytime at the President’s convenience,” Carpio said in a statement.
On Wednesday night, Duterte claimed that Carpio was among those involved in the decision of letting Navy ships during a 2012 standoff with China at Scarborough Shoal. He vowed to resign from the presidency if his statement will be proven false.
In his statement, Carpio said Duterte should “resign immediately” to keep his word of honor.
“President Duterte should now resign immediately to keep his word of honor. I state under oath that I was never involved in the decision to withdraw Philippine Navy ships from the West Philippine Sea during the 2012 Scarborough standoff,” the former magistrate said.
He added that he was currently serving at that time in the Supreme Court and knew about the withdrawal of the Navy ships through newspapers.
“I call as my witnesses former President Benigno Aquino III and the Defense Secretary, Foreign Affairs Secretary, and the Chiefs of the Philippine Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard at that time,” Carpio added.
The President earlier accused Carpio and former Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario as the ones who let China keep its presence in the country’s territorial waters during the Aquino administration.
The two former government officials were at the forefront of the country’s bid against China, which claims the West Philippine Sea.
