Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana rejected yesterday insinuations and allegations that President Duterte is guilty of inaction on the issue of the West Philippine Sea (WPS). Reacting to a survey that said nine out of 10 Filipinos want the Philippines to retake what it has lost, he said there are no islands to retake. He pointed out that China reclaimed several underwater reefs and that Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal was lost to the Chinese in 2012.

Punongbayan, M. (2018, July 24). Lorenzana on SCS survey: No islands to retake from China. The Philippine Star, p. 7.