Malacañang said it has no plans of setting aside the arbitral victory for the planned joint oil and gas exploration with China in the West Philippine Sea. Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said the arbitral ruling was subject to future talks even as the Philippines and China will forge ahead with other points of cooperation like the joint exploration. “He did not say that the Philippines will drop the claim. He said the arbitral ruling is still subject to peaceful talks – iyon ang ibig sabihin noon. In other words, impasse pa eh kaya hayaan mo muna silang mag-usap,” Panelo added.

Co, A. S. (2019, September 14). Palace: PH will not set aside arbitral win. Panay News, p. 5.