Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin on Wednesday bristled at presidential spokesman Harry Roque’s assertion that the Julian Felipe Reef is not part of the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ), saying only he had the authority to speak for the President on matters related to China and the West Philippine Sea. “There is only one voice on what’s ours: mine. Period. Not even the military has any say. I speak for the President on this subject,” Locsin said on his Twitter account. He also chided Roque for asking what the Philippines could do to stop China’s continued militarization of the West Philippine Sea.

Ramos-Araneta, M., & Barcelo, V. (2021, May 13). Locsin hits Roque for intruding into sea issue, foreign affairs. Manila Standard, pp. A1, A2.