(Eagle News) — President Rodrigo Duterte would not let China get Scarborough or Panatag Shoal contrary to “speculations” made by Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio, Malacanang said.
Carpio had earlier claimed that China would be able to reclaim the Scarborough Shoal before President Duterte’s term ends.
Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said Carpio is very much mistaken with his statement.
“Definitely, just like what the President said, I will not allow during my incumbency any assault on our sovereignty. That arbitral ruling is final, binding and not subject to appeal. That’s what he said,” Panelo said.
He stressed that anything that would go against the arbitral ruling which was already won by the Philippines would be opposed by the Duterte government.
“Anything that will go against the arbitral ruling would be of course objectionable for us, I think that’s a given. Because we are against any intrusion into the sovereign affairs of the land,” Panelo clarified.
