Abella to media: Use 'creative imagination' when decoding Duterte

ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/news-special1/nation/10/5/duterte-rtr-100516.jpg"/><figcaption><div class="embed-desc">President Rodrigo Duterte</div></figcaption></figure></div>MANILA - Presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella advised reporters on Wednesday to &quot;use creative imagination&quot; when dealing with President Rodrigo Duterte.&quot;If we follow his (Duterte&#x27;s) style, let us not put a period at the end of his statements,&quot; Abella said, as he encouraged the media to &quot;understand&quot; the President instead of &quot;taking him literally.&quot;The spokesman said this should be done as the President &quot;carefully calibrates his statements&quot; from time-to-time.But Abella&#x27;s technique of giving the President&#x27;s statements more elbow room for interpretation may lead to more confusion, such in the case when he went back and forth when trying to clarify Duterte&#x27;s pronouncement of &quot;cutting ties with the United States.&quot;&quot;He said he might. It&#x27;s not a definite yes, it&#x27;s not a definite no. The breaking up may not necessarily be a breaking up of alliances. It may, but he is not saying that,&quot; the spokesman said vaguely when asked for a clear-cut explanation on whether or not Duterte was keen on severing ties with the country&#x27;s treaty ally.Though Abella said Duterte is &quot;not leaning towards China, but is just expanding his options,&quot; a Palace reporter was quick to point out that cutting ties with the U.S. directly contradicts the idea of expanding possible alliances with other nations.Abella rounded up loose statements by saying that the President simply &quot;wants an independent foreign policy.&quot;He told reporters that Duterte&#x27;s pronouncements may only be considered as policy if and when it is followed by &quot;an official action.&quot;The President&#x27;s choice of words and how his cabinet members interpret them have been the source of controversy as Cabinet members have been trying to decode the 71-year-old firebrand in different ways, while allies have asked him to either tone down or shut up. <ul class="op-related-articles" title="Read">	<li>READ: <a href="http://news.abs-cbn.com/news/09/15/16/pco-appeals-for-one-voice-to-avoid-confusion">PCO appeals for one voice &#x27;to avoid confusion&#x27;</a></li></ul><ul class="op-related-articles" title="Read">	<li>READ: <a href="http://news.abs-cbn.com/news/10/03/16/shut-up-and-say-sorry-allies-tell-duterte">Shut up and say sorry, allies tell Duterte</a></li></ul>

MANILA - Presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella advised Palace reporters Wednesday to "use creative imagination" when dealing with President Rodrigo Duterte.

MANILA - Presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella advised Palace reporters Wednesday to "use creative imagination" when dealing with President Rodrigo Duterte.

Abella to media: Use 'creative imagination' when decoding Duterte | ABS-CBN

Halalan 2025

Entertainment

News

Metro.Style

Lifestyle

Sports

More

Traffic

Horoscope

News

Abella to media: Use 'creative imagination' when decoding Duterte

Abella to media: Use 'creative imagination' when decoding Duterte

ABS-CBN News

Published Oct 05, 2016 03:29 PM PHT

Read More:

Rodrigo Duterte

Ernesto Abella

first 100 days

ABS-CBN is the leading media and entertainment company in the Philippines, offering quality content across TV, radio, digital, and film. Committed to public service and promoting Filipino values, ABS-CBN continues to inspire and connect audiences worldwide.

Corporate

Investors

Governance

International Distribution

Corporate

Governance

Investors

International Distribution

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

AI Policy

Terms of Service

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.