蜜桃工作室

MANILA, Philippines鈥擯resident Aquino is scheduled聽 to meet with his entire Cabinet on Thursday afternoon鈥攖he second full Cabinet meeting in a span of one week鈥攖o discuss the dispute with China over territories in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea).

Asked if the President would also call a meeting of the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council and the National Security Council to discuss the West Philippine Sea issues, his spokesperson, Edwin Lacierda said: 鈥淚t will be discussed by President Aquino with his Cabinet officials and we will see from there鈥� We have consulted with congressional leaders on occasion. So we will let you know, we will let them know.鈥�

Ricky Carandang, the presidential communications secretary, said on Tuesday that it was important for the entire Cabinet discuss the territorial issues.

鈥淭here鈥檚 no specific particular pressing issue. But I think if you look at the way the Philippines-China dynamic has evolved over the last few months鈥� there鈥檚 defense, there鈥檚 political, there鈥檚 economic, there鈥檚 all kinds of factors now that are being thrown into the mix,鈥� Carandang said in an earlier news briefing.

鈥淎nd the President has met with the economic cluster about these issues. He has met with the security cluster about these issues. He has met with DFA. So when the whole Cabinet comes together, then they can be discussed in a broader context,鈥� he added.

President Aquino last met his Cabinet on Friday last week to discuss the two-trillion-peso budget for 2013. That meeting is set from 1:30 p.m. to past 8 p.m.