Roque clarifies Duterte remark: China sea reclamation started during Aquino admin

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque on Saturday clarified President Rodrigo Duterte's remarks blaming the United States and the Aquino administration for not stopping China's militarization in the disputed South China Sea.

"Eh kagabi po nagsalita naman ang Presidente, ang sabi niya eh talagang sana po eh may nagawa iyong nakalipas na administrasyon diyan dahil ang mga artipisyal na isla namang iyan ay hinukay, ginawa at binuo noong panahon pa ng nakalipas na administrasyon, pero dinatnan na po iyan ng ating administrasyon," Roque said in a press briefing in Davao City.

He said Duterte was not pointing fingers, but was making a point that "we have to live with the reality" that the problem with China's militarization in the South China Sea has been existing when he took over the presidency.

"Hindi naman po tayo talagang nanunuro lamang, pero ang katunayan po eh we have to live with reality na naririyan na ‘yan nang pumasok ang administrasyon na ito," he added.

During a speech in Davao City, Duterte blamed the previous administration for not confronting China even after the country has secured a favorable ruling from the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) which invalidated the Asian superpower's excessive claims.

“Aquino filed an arbitration case, we won. He was still there, bakit hindi niya ginawa kung 'yan talaga ang gusto ‘yan silang mga yellows,” Duterte said in a speech in
Davao City.

“Nanalo kayo nandiyan pa si Aquino... Bakit hindi niyo pinuntahan at sinita?” he added.

The ruling was handed down by the PCA on July 12, 2016, several days after Duterte assumed the presidency.

China has refused to recognize the ruling. Duterte had said he is setting aside the PCA ruling to forge closer ties with China, the world's second largest economy.

Roque said that Duterte meant that China started reclaiming the disputed waters during the time of the Aquino administration.

"Ang sinasabi lang ni Presidente, eh talagang iyong buong proseso po ng pagre-reclaim at pagtatapos noong islang iyon, nagawa po iyon sa administrasyon ng Presidente Aquino," he said.

China had reportedly installed anti-ship cruise missiles and surface-to-air missile systems on three of its outposts in the West Philippine Sea.

These would be the first Chinese missile deployments in the Spratlys, where several Asian countries including Vietnam, the Philippines and Taiwan have rival claims.

American news network CNBC reported on Wednesday that according to US intelligence assessments, the missiles were moved to Fiery Cross Reef, Subi Reef and Mischief Reef in the Spratly Islands within the past 30 days. —Jessica Bartolome/ALG, GMA News