In his third State of the Nation Address (Sona), expect President Rodrigo Duterte to stress that the Philippines is not giving away any of its territory to China.
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque told Radyo Inquirer on Monday morning that Duterte has included the West Philippine Sea issue in the speech he will deliver at the Batasang Pambansa later in the afternoon.
“Nandyan po sa talumpati niya [ang West Philippine Sea issue], pero ang sasabihin po niya talaga ay wala po tayong teritoryo na pinamimigay,” he said.
(It’s there in his speech, but what he will say really is that we are not giving away any territory.)
Roque’s statement was also in response to Acting Chief Justice Antonio Carpio’s demand for Duterte to spell out his strategy in dealing with China on the sea dispute.
READ: Spell out China strategy in Sona, Carpio tells Duterte
Roque assured the Duterte administration is “standing firm” on the national interest but maintained that it is setting aside certain issues that cannot be resolved at the moment.
“Ngayon po, ang pang-nasyonal na interes ay nagdidikta na isantabi muna ang mga bagay na hindi mareresolba at pursigihin ‘yung mga bagay na pwedeng ipursigi sa larangan po ng kalakaran at turismo,” he said.
(Right now, the national interest dictates we should set aside things that cannot be resolved and push for those that can be pursued in the field of trade and tourism.) /kga