The Philippines is no slave to China, Malacañang said yesterday, as it faces mounting criticism over President Duterte’s silence on the sinking of a Filipino fishing boat after it was hit by a Chinese vessel near Recto Bank in the West Philippine Sea last June 9. Presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said Duterte is just being cautious and is waiting for all the facts to come in before making a declaration on the incident. “We can never be slaves to anyone,” Panelo said at a press briefing yesterday.

Romero, A., Lee-Brago, P., Simeon, L. M., Punay, E., & Felipe, C. S. (2019, June 18). Phl sovereignty not negotiable - Palace. The Philippine Star, pp. 1, 4.