Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo yesterday said Chinese vessels have no business staying around Philippine-occupied islands in the West Philippine Sea/South China Sea and should leave. "If they continue to be present in our territory, then it is an assault to our sovereignty," Panelo said amid reports that Chinese vessels have been seen around the Philippine-occupied Kota Island (referred to by the Chinese as Loaita Island) and Panata Island (Lankiam) on March 28. But he also said the reports are still being verified.

Montemayor, J., Hachero, A., & Reye, V. (2019, April 11). Panelo tells Chinese ships to go away. Malaya Business Insight, pp. B1, B5