While he maintained that he will not wage war on China, President Rodrigo Duterte said he will not allow the Chinese government to seize the Pag-asa Island in the West Philippine Sea. Duterte said this during his speech in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan last week. “The Pag-asa Island belongs to us. Is that ‘yung base natin? China would never do that, I assure you unless China wants a war with us. Eh ‘di ako papayag kung pati ‘yung Pag-asa i-occupy nila,” the President said.

Co, A. S. (2019, April 8). 'Let us be friends but don't touch Pag-asa Island'. Panay News, pp. 14, 37.