President Rodrigo Duterte said that he never promised to retake the West Philippine Sea from China during his 2016 presidential bid.
“I never, never, in my campaign as President, promise the people that I would re-take the West Philippine Sea. I did not promise that I would pressure China,” Duterte said in a speech on Monday.
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“I never promised anything. Just because I’m President, gusto n’yong makipag-away ako,” he added.
In 2016, the president made it clear that he will not wage a war against China despite winning the arbitration case against Beijing.
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In a presidential debate during his campaign, Duterte made headlines and impressed the voting public when he promised to go to China and use a jet ski with the Philippine flag.
“I will ask the navy to bring me to the nearest boundary dyan sa Spratlys o Scarborough. Bababa ako at sasakay ako ng jetski, dala dala ko ang flag ng Filipino at pupunta ako dun sa airport nila (ng China) tapos itanim ko. I will say, this is ours and do what you want with me,” he said. (TDT)
