Palace spokesman Harry Roque on Monday dared Vice President Leni Robredo to debate on China's seizure of features in the West Philippine Sea.
President Rodrigo Duterte last week also dared retired Supreme Court justice Antonio Carpio to debate with him on the issue. But the Chief Executive later backed out of the debate and tapped Roque as his proxy.
In response, Robredo's spokesman Barry Gutierrez said, "Anlakas ng loob maghamon, eh yung unang debateng hiningi inatrasan naman." Roque said he was "friends" with Robredo, who is also a lawyer, and that they were dorm mates when they were still in college. He said the debate with the Vice President could revolve on whether or not Duterte's "foreign policy resulted to derogation of sovereignty or the loss of territory."
Duterte has refused to press China to obey the ruling and sought investments and loans from the economic superpower.