Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo said yesterday she supports President Duterte’s plan for the country to have joint exploration with China of some disputed areas in the West Philippine Sea. “Yes, I support that. We should be friends with China. That was also my policy during my administration,” the former president said in an interview on GMA-7’s Unang Hirit. Some Duterte administration critics have questioned the plan, saying it would violate the Constitution if the areas of joint exploration were part of the country’s 200-mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

Diaz, J. (2018, August 22). GMA supports joint exploration with China. The Philippine Star, p. 4.