Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella. MARLON RAMOS/蜜桃工作室
It鈥檚 no joke. Believe him.
Malaca帽ang on Tuesday dispelled doubts on President Rodrigo Duterte鈥檚 sincerity in upholding the landmark Paris Agreement on climate change.
鈥淲hy should he be joking about that?鈥� Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella told a press briefing with a wry smile.
鈥淵es, of course,鈥� he replied when asked if Duterte was serious about honoring the international treaty.
During the Cabinet discussions on the Paris covenant, Abella said the President raised his concern over 鈥渃limate justice,鈥� noting that climate-vulnerable nations could not easily access the funds collected from countries which failed to comply with the limit on carbon emissions.
鈥淭here were certain things he was concerned about like the sanctions to be taken鈥� because the agreement was not supposed to be binding so he wanted clarification regarding that,鈥� he said.
On Monday, the President said he would support the ratification of the climate change pact after members of his Cabinet voted unanimously to support it.
READ: Duterte to uphold Paris Agreement
鈥淎fter so much debate, I will sign the climate change agreement,鈥� said Duterte.
The Philippines was among some 200 countries which adopted the covenant during the 21st Conference of Parties held in France in December 2015.
In August, Duterte said he would not honor the Paris agreement, calling it an 鈥渁bsurd鈥� and 鈥渟tupid鈥� arrangement which would only stymie the country鈥檚 economic development. RAM