Duterte gov’t ‘not surrendering policy’ on PH exclusive economic zone

PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte’s administration is not surrendering its policy on the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ) despite China’s sweeping claims to nearly the entire South China Sea, Malacañang said Thursday, July 4.

Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo issued the statement, even as he admitted that China tends to ignore the Philippines’s policy on the disputed sea.

Panelo maintained that the government cannot prevent China from venturing into the Philippine waters, since Beijing is already “in possession” of the resourcerich South China Sea.

“Uulitin ko ang sinabi ni Presidente, ang problema kasi, ang tanong na ‘yun na, ‘Will you allow [China to fish within the Philippines’s EEZ]?’ Ano bang allow? Eh nandoon na nga sila. They are there. As far as they are concerned, they own it,” the Palace official said in a press conference.

(I will repeat the President’s statement. The problem is the question, “Will you allow China to fish within the Philippines’ EEZ? What is there to allow? They are there. As far as they are concerned, they own it.)

“The policy is huwag papasok sa EEZ. Ang sinasabi naman ni Presidente, ‘Ang problema nga diyan, ‘yang policy na iyan eh sila nga ang may hawak ng buong karagatan. Kaya hindi natin pipwedeng ipagpilitan ang sarili natin sa kanila kasi nagri-react din sila. Kaya nga I want to avoid any armed hostilities. Hindi na ako maghihintay na magkaroon ng gulo diyan,’” he added./ Sunstar Philippines