Panelo says no inconsistency between his, DFA functions on foreign policy

November 19, 2019

Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo insisted on Tuesday there has never been any inconsistency between the functions of his office and of the Department of Foreign Affairs regarding Philippine foreign policy.

He made the statement after some senators, during the deliberation of the DFA's proposed 2020 budget, wondered if there were two spokespersons for the country's foreign policy - Panelo and Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr.

"Consistent with its mandate, the DFA remains to be the lead agency that advises and assists the President in planning, organizing, directing, coordinating and evaluating the total national effort in the field of foreign relations. It handles the day-to-day operations of our country's affairs with the international community, as well as its members," Panelo said in a statement.

In the case of the Office of the Presidential Spokesperson  (OPS), he said its function is to inform the public of the statements of President Rodrigo Duterte " in order to forestall any misunderstanding or misinterpretation, be they malicious or otherwise."

"This is of particular import when a matter, which may cover any issue, relates to and concerns the President. Media reporters, especially members of the Malacañang Press Corps, recognize this as they regularly inquire with our office about the thoughts of the President on almost every critical issue, knowing that he acts not only as the Chief Executive but also as the Head of State who has control over all departments, bureaus and offices," Panelo explained.

He said it was amusing that the DFA and his office were being pitted against each other "when in truth and in fact our offices have always acted in a complementary way."

The President being the chief architect of Philippine foreign policy, he said the DFA and the OPS take cues from the orders, instructions and directives of President Rodrigo Duterte.

"More often than not, the OPS defers to the DFA Secretary when issues touching on foreign policy are raised by persistent reporters, specially when they can not access the latter. It is only when the DFA Secretary has already made a pronouncement on a matter affecting the external affairs of the State that the PS echoes the same or when prior consultation has been made by the PS with the DFA Secretary or when there is a direct instruction from the President to make a statement or to make a clarification on the same," he added. Celerina Monte/DMS