President Rodrigo R. Duterte on Sunday led the commissioning of a Coast Guard ship that is set to patrol Philippine-claimed territories in the South China Sea, years after foreign policy experts started criticizing him for his government’s lack of presence in the waterway. Mr. Duterte, 77, rendered a salute to acknowledge the vessel as he formally allowed its commanding officer to start its official duty, the Philippine Coast Guard said in a Facebook post. The agency said the ship would roam around the country’s maritime jurisdictions, including the South China Sea in the west and Philippine Rise eastward.

Atienza, K. A. T. (2022, June 13). Duterte sends off patrol ship to South China Sea. Business World, p. S1/12.