Malacañang reiterated yesterday that the Philippine government will continue to rely on China’s good faith and insisted that the Asian giant has not made any new reclamation in disputed areas in the South China Sea (West Philippine Sea). Speaking at a press briefing, Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque said there was nothing new with the published report of a national daily (not The Manila Bulletin) that China allegedly almost finished its militarization of the artificial islands in the disputed waters. Roque referred to the report and the photographs to support it as supposed activities that happening even before President Duterte took office.

Geducos, A. C. B., & Kabiling, G. D. (2018, February 6). No new reclamation by China under Duterte's watch - Palace. Manila Bulletin, pp. 1, 4.