President Rodrigo Duterte said he would assert the Philippines’ victory in an international court before his term ends in 2020 to get back the territory now occupied by China, as he blamed former President Benigno Aquino III and the United States for their failure to stop China from occupying and militarizing the disputed South China Sea some eight years ago. Magdalo Party-list Rep. Gary Alejano made the call following overt militarization efforts of China in the South China Sea with installation of missiles as the most recent one. Alejano noted that since 2016, the Duterte administration had shifted to China instead of pursuing a genuine ‘independent foreign policy’.

Barcelo, C., & Cruz, M. (2018, May 6). Duterte to assert PH win in sea row. Manila Standard, pp. A1, A2.