Former Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile has accepted President Rodrigo Duterte's invitation for a talk on the West Philippine Sea, Malacañang said Monday as the government faces criticism of its handling of the maritime dispute with China.
Saying Enrile was "there right at the beginning," Duterte last week invited the nonagenarian to Malacañang to discuss the maritime dispute as Chinese ships linger in Philippine waters.
"Mamayang gabi po magiging panauhin po si dating Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile sa 'Talk to the People'," Duterte's spokesperson Harry Roque said in a Palace press briefing.
"Malaman natin ano ang opinyon ng dating Senate President na naging kalihim din ng DND (Department of National Defense)..." he added.
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The President last week said he wanted to listen to Enrile's take on the West Philippine Sea dispute.
"Makikinig lang ako sa kanya kasi siya ‘yong --- he was there right at the beginning. So sa kanya ako makinig kasi sa kanya ako bilib sa utak at pag-intindi nitong problema itong ating West Philippine Sea," Duterte said.
Duterte had maintained that he would not pull out the country's patrols in the West Philippine Sea, telling China that the two countries need not go to war over their maritime dispute.
As of May 9, National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr. said 287 Chinese militia ships were still "scattered" off various features of the Philippines' Kalayaan municipality in the Spratlys.