IT is so despicable for the President of the Republic to distort and use an important issue that would have shed light on this government's quarrel with China over a part of the Spratlys (Kalayaan Islands to us) to portray former president Rodrigo Duterte, whose political clout was crucial in getting him the presidency, as having betrayed his country to China.

I am referring to the controversy over the agreement between the Philippines and China made in 1999 over the handling of the removal of the BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal. The landing ship was grounded there in May 1999 by the Philippine Navy, reportedly without President Estrada's approval, on the justification that the ship stranded there as listed Philippine assets 'represented the Philippines' over a disputed territory.