The Malacañang strongly denied that President Rodrigo Duterte had a verbal agreement with China’s President Xi Jinping to allow the Chinese to fish within the country’s exclusive economic zone. “There is no truth to the speculation of a purported verbal fishing agreement between President Rodrigo Roa Duterte and President Xi Jin Ping, nor that Chinese vessels were encouraged to stay in the West Philippine Sea despite the diplomatic protests and strongly-worded statements of Philippine government officials,” Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said on Friday. Roque made the statement after retired Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonio Carpio said the supposed verbal deal between the country and China emboldened Chinese vessels to stay in the West Philippine Sea.

Co, A. S. (2021, April 24 - 25). 'No verbal fishing deal between Duterte, Xi'. Panay News, p. 6.