Days before leaving for a state visit to China, President Duterte yesterday said he would set aside the Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal issue for now but vowed to ask the Chinese government to allow Filipinos to fish in the disputed area. "Pupunta ako ng China. OK tayo sa kanila. Huwag muna nating pakialaman yung Scarborough. Di natin kaya. Magalit man tayo, hangin lang (I will go to China. We're OK with them. Let's not touch the Scarborough issue for now. We can't solve it. Even if we get mad, it's all hot air," Duterte said during an agrarian reform forum in Lamitan, Basilan. "We will ask them to allow our fishermen brothers to return (to the shoal)," he added.

Alexis, R. (2016 October 11). Rody to ask China for Scarborough fishing access. The Philippine Star, pp. 1, 2.