Supreme Court Senior Justice Antonio T. Carpio said yesterday that the Armed Forces headed by President Duterte as commander-in-chief are constitutionally mandated to defend Scarborough or Panatag Shoul as part of the Philippine territory. In a statement, Carpio reminded the President “to avoid any act, statement or declarations that expressly or impliedly waives Philippine territory in the West Philippine Sea”. His statement was issued after the President quoted as saying that he (the President) cannot stop China for implementing its plan to build structures on the disputed Panatag Shoal for now.

Panaligan, R. G. (2017, March 21). Carpio to Duterte, AFP: defend Panatag Shoal. Manila Bulletin. pp. 1, 4.