MANILA – President Rodrigo Duterte is “more than ready” to fight for the country’s interest, especially in the contested West Philippines Sea on his state visit to China later this week, according to Sen. Christopher “Bong” Go.
Go said Duterte will raise the country’s arbitral victor in his upcoming 8th bilateral meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing.
“Handang-handa naman po parati si Pangulong Duterte. Alam ko ipaglalaban niya. Marami siyang gustong sabihin na kung ano po ang atin ay atin,” he added.
“Pilipino po si Pangulong Duterte, proteksyunan niya po ang interes po ng bawat Pilipino,” Go said. “Wala pong makakapigil kay Pangulong Duterte kung ano man po ang gustong sasabihin ng Pangulo.”
Go added that as long as it concerned the interests of the Philippines and Filipinos, Duterte has always been willing to speak his mind.
The Hague on July 2016 recognized the Philippines’ sovereign rights in its 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone in the South China Sea.
China, however, refused to recognize the ruling and has built artificial islands, prohibited Filipino fishermen from fishing and interfered in petroleum exploration in the disputed area.
On his latest China trip, Duterte on Aug. 31 will also watch the game of Gilas Pilipinas against Italy in the 2019 FIBA World Cup at the International Sports and Cultural Arena in Foshan City./PN
