No new weapons are being eyed for islets and land features in the West Philippine Sea over which President Duterte wants the military to exercise greater control. The President made the clarification yesterday at the Davao International Airport shortly before departing for Saudi Arabia. His pronouncements came on the heels of Beijing’s voicing concern over his earlier statement that he had ordered the military to occupy at least nine islets and reefs under Philippine control.

Mendez, C., Simeon, L. M., Regalado, E., & Lee-Brago, P. (2017, April 11). Duterte: no weapons in island occupation. Philippine Star, p. 6.