“I will correct myself.”

President Duterte has taken the advice of China to not plant the Philippine flag in the Pag-asa Island as it might cause quite a stir among claimants of the disputed South China Sea.

Duterte, during his meeting with the members of the Filipino community in Riyadh Wednesday night (before dawn Thursday Manila time), said he is cancelling his earlier declaration of personally going to the said island to plant the flag.

“Kasi sabi ng China, what will happen if every head of state of contending parties there around the West Philippine Sea will go there to plant the flag? There will likely be trouble,” he said.

According to Duterte, it is more important to consider the growing friendship between the Philippines and China as the Asian giant’s goodwill has helped elevate the country’s trade and economy.

“Because of our friendship with China and because we value your [China} friendship, I will not go there to raise the Philippine flag,” he said.

“Sana raw in the meantime, ‘just do not go there please.’ I will correct myself because we value our friendship with china,” he added.

“It [China] has benefited us in so many ways. Gumanda ang buhay natin,” he said.

Duterte instead joked that he will send one of his sons, Paolo and Baste, so they can remind the claimants that the blood of the Filipino is on the island.

“Maybe I’ll send my son. Just to show to the other claimants that the blood of the Filipino is in the disputed islands,” he gested.

Source:
courtesy of MANILA BULLETIN

by Argyll Cyrus Geducos

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