President Duterte is determined to take the appropriate action to protect the country’s interest in the West Philippine Sea “at a time most fitting and advantageous” to Filipinos.
Presidential Spokesman Ernesto Abella assured that the President would not abandon the country’s maritime entitlements amid reported plans of China to build structures in the disputed area.
“President Duterte has repeatedly asserted that RP is not giving up its claims and our entitlements over the area,” Abella said.
“He has said time and again that he will defend and protect the interests of the Filipino people, and will take necessary action at at a time most fitting and advantageous to us,” he said.
At present, Abella said the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) is still verifying reports that China intend to build structures in the West Philippine Sea. He noted that such alleged announcements “do not reflect the official position” of China.
Before he left for Myanmar last Sunday, the President admitted that the Philippines “cannot stop” China from building an environmental monitoring station on Panatag Shoal.
Duterte added that he would not declare war with China over the territorial dispute due to its military might. “It would be a massacre,” he conceded.
Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonio Carpio earlier called on the Duterte to defend the country’s territory by filing a protest against China’s construction activity and sending Navy to patrol Panatag Shoal.
Carpio said Duterte could also ask the United States to declare Panatag Shoal as part of Philippine territory for purposes of the Philippines-US mutual defense treaty. The SC magistrate also suggested the acceptance of the US offer to hold joint naval patrols in the South China Sea to prevent China from building on Panatag Shoal.
Carpio was part of the Philippine team that argued and won the country’s arbitration case against China before an international tribunal. (GENALYN KABILING)