DAVAO CITY – Former President Fidel V. Ramos has officially accepted the offer of President Rodrigo Duterte to be the Special Envoy to China but a detailed policy direction on the West Philippine Sea issue will be laid down in a National Security Council (NSC) meeting next week.
“Kaya natin to,” this was how Ramos confirmed his acceptance to the offer in a two-hour meeting with President Duterte at Marco Polo Hotel on Saturday evening.
In an interview with reporters after his meeting with Duterte, Ramos said he accepted the task after he was given clearance by his doctors that he was now physically fit to take the job.
“I have been cleared by my doctors at the Makati Medical Center and cleared by my wife (Ms. Amelita Ramos),” said Ramos, who admitted that he suffered from three serious ailments – including one that impaired the flow of blood to the brain.
He said he was also wearing a pacemaker.
It may be recalled that Duterte named Ramos as special envoy for bilateral talks with China.
Ramos earlier said he wanted to clarify with Duterte what his specific role would be as special envoy to China, emphasizing that being special envoy does not only entail going to China and talking with its leaders, especially in the wake of the ruling on the West Philippine Sea.
But he said the West Philippine Sea issue would be tackled in his meetings with Duterte’s senior officials.
“I said before that there should already be a National Security Council,” he said highlighting that the Philippine position can be defined by the Philippine leaders.
Other officials present at the meeting included Presidential Peace Adviser Jesus Dureza, National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon, former Presidential Assistant for Mindanao Paul Dominguez, Press Secretary Martin Andanar and Presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella.
Dureza said President Duterte would convene the NSC on July 27. The NSC is composed of the former Presidents of the Philippines, the heads of the different Congress, and key officials of the security cluster. He said Presidential Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon has already arranged to convene the NSC, which is headed by President Duterte.