The government will not give away a single inch of Philippine territory to China, and should not seriously take President Rodrigo Duterte’s joke to make the country a province of China, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said Tuesday. “It was obvious that the President was just trying to crack a joke in front of Filipino-Chinese businessman. You know, it’s just to emphasize that it’s ours but we’re one with China,” the presidential spokesperson said, referring to Kagitingan Reef in the South China Sea and the Philippine Rise east of Luzon.

Barcelo, V. (2018, February 21). Palace on Du30 joke: PH not giving away territory. Manila Standard, pp. A1, A2.