ASEAN Summit may not be place to discuss Recto Bank incident: Panelo

June 20, 2019

Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo on Thursday said the 34th ASEAN ( Association of Southeast Asian) Summit in Bangkok may not be the proper venue to discuss the collision incident in Recto Bank but heads of states may decide to discuss it during their meetings.

“That’s not the proper venue but who knows? You know the heads of state may discuss it,” Panelo said in a TV interview.

On Tuesday, Assistant Foreign Secretary Junever Mahilum-West said the ASEAN leaders will discuss the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea but cannot confirm if the incident in Recto Bank will be discussed in Bangkok.

“South China Sea will be on the agenda and the leaders are going to exchange views on this issue,” West said.

“As you know the Philippines is coordinator of the ASEAN-China dialogue partnership from 2018 to 2021, for three years. And during this coordinatorship, we are negotiating ASEAN member states and China on the Code of Conduct for the South China Sea, on the South China Sea,” she added.

President Rodrigo Duterte is set to leave on June 21 to participate in the summit. Ella Dionisio/DMS