President Rodrigo Duterte clarifies his statement regarding the “separation” with the United States saying there is no cutting of diplomatic ties, but only a separation of foreign policy. (Earl O. Condeza/davaotoday.com)
DAVAO CITY, Philippines – Not one note of the supposed full-scale investigation report reached President Rodrigo Duterte, regarding the case of Michael Meiring who figured in 2002 Davao City explosion when he was the Davao’s local chief executive.
During his arrival speech from China Saturday midnight, Oct.22, Duterte said the case of Meiring remains a “Batman and Robin mystery,” noting the alleged U.S Central Intelligence Agency agent went in and out of Davao City for five years.
Duterte told the reporters that Meiring brought explosives in Davao City and stayed at the Evergreen Hotel here for his mysterious activities.
“Hindi siya pumayag na magpasok ang taga linis (He never allowed his room cleaned by hotel service),” he said.
On May 16, an explosion occurred from Meiring’s room, causing him to lose both of his legs.
Duterte said Meiring was brought to the hospital, but unfortunately, early the following morning, agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation got him out of the hospital.
“Got him out kasi sabi nila sa Makati Medical Center for better medical equipment, facilities, whatever. But what they really dig is to fly out Meiring to Singapore and shanghai him to U.S. To this day, parang Batman and Robin mystery yan, no explanation (They got him out because they said Makati Medical Center had better medical equipment, facilities, whatever),” Duterte said.
Duterte said former US ambassador to the Philippines, Francis Ricciardone vowed to him that they would “conduct full-scale investigation.”
“And committed to me that they will serve me facts. Sa awa ng Diyos hanggang ngayon wala pa akong natanggap maski note lang sana (By God’s grace, I have not yet received any report, not even a note),” he said.
Duterte added that during the presidential elections campaign, someone who identified himself as from the Central Intelligence Agency talked to him about the Meiring case.
“These were his exact words: “Mayor, pwede ba nating kalimutan na lang ‘to? (Mayor can we let this pass),” he said.
Duterte said he cannot do anything because he has been waiting for the report. “So I really do not know what was the mystery about.”
A Davao-based online media outfit Mindanews published a three-part series report titled “The Meiring mystery”.
In the said report, Meiring was charged of “illegal possession of ammunition and reckless imprudence resulting to damage to property” which were filed May 22. But Duterte, then said Meiring should be charged for arson, too, for burning a portion of the hotel.”
Duterte was firm in saying that US “disrespected” the Philippines. “Binastos tayo ng America,” he said.
“Ngayon itong America if you violate their sovereignty, you’ll raise hell, you go to war. Kung tayo, ang ginagawa nila sa atin there wasn’t even an apology (If you violate America’s sovereignty, you’ll raise hell,you go to war. If they do the same to us, there wasn’t even an apology),” he said.
During his speech at a business forum in China, Duterte pronounced recently that he would “separate” from the U.S.
But Duterte clarified that what he meant was “not a severance of ties” but a “separation of foreign policy.
“You know, you have to take my words in the context of what I’ve been saying all along. It is not a severance of ties,” he said.
“In the severance of ties you cut the diplomatic relations. I cannot do that. Why? It is in the best interest of my country that we maintain that relationship,” Duterte said.
He said in the past and until he became the president, the country follows what the United States would give. (davaotoday.com)
