Duterte: West PHL Sea, federalism must be tackled sooner or later

President Rodrigo Duterte promised on Monday that the issue of maritime dispute in the West Philippine Sea and shift to a federal form of government would be tackled at the most opportune time.

"The West Philippine Sea issue and federalism are matters that we have to tackle sooner or later," Duterte said in his second State of the Nation Address (SONA) before a joint session of Congress.

The Duterte administration has been pushing for a shift to a federal form of government as a means to address national economic and power imbalances. Under the proposed shift, the country will be divided into states that will be formed from the existing regions.

The Philippines, meanwhile, is embroiled in long-simmering maritime dispute with China in the resource rich sea.

The Permanent Court of Arbitration last year delivered a sweeping victory to the Philippines on the case it filed against China during the term of then-President Benigno Aquino III and declared as illegal China's claim over nearly the entire South China Sea.

It also declared that Beijing violated the rights of Filipinos, who were blocked by Chinese Coast Guard from fishing in the disputed Scarborough Shoal off Zambales.

Duterte, however, said he will temporarily set aside the ruling to avoid confrontation with China, but vowed to raise it at the right time during his presidency.  — RSJ, GMA News