President Duterte is willing to sail to the West Philippine Sea (WPS) amid renewed tension with China, but admitted that such voyage will be futile. Breaking his silence on the latest territorial spat with China, the President conceded that the Philippines was “not in possession of the sea”, and that it could retake the area only by force, an option he refuses to consider. “Ako gusto ko tinanong ko nga si (Defense) Secretary (Delfin) Lorenzana, puwede ba tayo pupunta tayo doon, papasok sa mga Spratlys Islands ng barko natin. Of course it should be coast guard. we dont send gray ships to, mga warship diyan para ipakita sa Pilipino na maski ilang balik natin door, wala talagang mangyari because we are not in possession of the sea. Sa kanila eh (I want to go. I asked Secretary Lorenzana if ew can go to Spratlys Islands using our boat. Of course, it should be coast guard — we don’t send gray ships, warships there — just to show to Filipinos that even if we keep returning to the area, nothing will happen because we are not in possession of the sea. It’s theirs),” Duterte said during a televised address Monday, April 20.

Kabiling, G. (2021, April 21). Duterte says nothing will happen even if he sails to West PH Sea. Manila Bulletin, pp. 1, 6.