MANILA, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles, Manila Bureau) – Most Filipinos think that former President Rodrigo Duterte would be the best Philippine Emissary to China to broker a diplomatic solution to the South China Sea territorial dispute between the two countries. It is a well-known fact that Duterte is good friends with Chinese President Xi Jinping. (Duterte recently met with Xi during his personal visit to China.)

But President Bongbong Marcos has a different idea.

He wants to appoint Rappler CEO Maria Ressa as his personal representative on South China Sea affairs. “Who could be the best to fill that role than the Nobel Peace Prize Laureate herself,” Marcos told The Adobo Chronicles.

Our sources tell us that Marcos had already met secretly with Ressa who surprised Filipinos with her sudden 180-degree turn in as far as her thoughts and impressions were on the President. She now says Marcos (whom she labeled “son of a dictator”) is doing a good job.

No word yet on when Malacañang will formally announce Ressa’s appointment, which would earn her a presidential pardon in the event that the Supreme Court affirms her cyber libel conviction.