(Eagle News) – President Rodrigo Duterte will visit Pag-asa Island in the South China Sea within his term, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said on Friday, May 18.
Roque made the statement after the President failed to “jet ski” in the Philippine Rise reportedly to assert the country’s rights over the Philippines’ extended continental shelf.
Roque had said the trip to the Philippine Rise was “not feasible,” given the fact that it was underwater.
Presidential son Sebastian Duterte and Special Assistant to the President Bong Go rode the jet skis instead.
“Well, tingin ko po darating at darating ang panahon na pupuntahan ni Presidente ang Pag-asa Island. Ang pagbisita po ng isang Presidente sa Pag-asa ‘yan po ay ebidensya ng soberenya at kung hindi man ngayon gagawin ‘yan ng Presidente tingin ko bago matapos ang termino niya,” Roque told reporters.
He said the President will also visit the soldiers and residents on the island.
Pag-asa Island is the biggest of the 10 islands and reefs in the disputed Spratly group of islands off the South China Sea.
Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana visited the island in April last year, amid the government’s plans to build facilities there.
He, however, faced protest from China, which has reportedly been aggressive in installing military facilities in the South China Sea.