Senator-elect Robinhood Ferdinand "Robin" Padilla is hopeful that negotiations between the Philippines and China on the joint oil and gas exploration in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) will soon resume and whatever differences between the two countries on the matter will be resolved. "Nalungkot lamang po ako noong nabalitaan ko na 'yung inaalok natin na joint exploration sa China, para mag-mosquito na rin tayo, ibig sabihin bumutas na rin tayo sa WPS, kasi proven na rin po 'yan na meron talagang langis at gas doon (I was saddened by reports about what happened to the proposed joint exploration with China. It's time that we start drilling oil in WPS. It has been proven that there are really oil and gas deposits in the area)," Padilla told Senate reporters before he attended the Senate briefing/orientation for newly elected senators of the 19th Congress on Tuesday, June 28.

Ismael, J. J. (2022, June 29). Robin hopeful PH-China oil talks will continue. The Manila Times, p. A3.