Marcos believes Dutertes are pro-China, expected Sara's criticism on WPS —Palace

President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. expected the criticism from Vice President Sara Duterte on how the government is handling the territorial dispute in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).

'The President said, ''We expect that from the Dutertes because they are pro-China. At ang Pangulo po ay pro-Filipinos (The President is pro-Filipinos),'' Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro said on Tuesday during a press briefing after she was asked for comment on Duterte's recent remark over the WPS issue.

On Sunday, the Vice President expressed her disapproval of the United States deployment of the Typhon missile system in the Philippines.

“Iyong problema natin sa West Philippine Sea, does not make up our entire relations with China. And so, therefore, there is no reason for you to lean towards the US. You have to always stay in the middle because you are not a part of the bigger conflict,” Duterte said while she was in Australia.

She also believed that the Philippines is ill-equipped for war or any "global shock" due to the Marcos administration’s lack of plan and direction.

“We are not prepared for drawing change, we are not prepared for war, we are not prepared for global shock because there is no plan at all, there is no vision at all,” Duterte also said.

Last month, days before Eleksyon 2025, Duterte fought back against criticisms over her supposed "deafening silence" over China's aggression in the West Philippine Sea.

"Of course I am pro-Philippines and nothing else,” said the Vice President.

Marcos and Duterte were running mates in Eleksyon 2022. Despite their victory in the polls, the relationship of the two had gone sour, with Duterte even stepping down from her post as Education secretary. 

She also resigned from Lakas-CMD as its chairperson and a member, saying that she won’t be able to serve the country amid "political toxicity“ or undermined by "execrable political power play."

Meanwhile, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) will continue protecting the interests of the Philippines as mandated, Philippine Navy spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad said Tuesday.

"We defer all matters of policy to the proper government agency. Nevertheless, your Armed Forces will keep performing its mandate in furtherance of protecting our national interests all over the country,” Trinidad said.

He also said the AFP and the Philippine Navy are ready to provide security and protection to any effort by the national government to use the country’s natural resources.

“We are prepared to provide protection to any other party that will be working with the Philippine government and to provide also security against any interference of any foreign power,” Trinidad said, expressing readiness for defence from foreign harassment should the drilling at the Malampaya natural gas begin.

Razon-led Prime Energy Resources Development B.V. earlier said it has awarded the multi-million-dollar contract to drill two new deep water wells at the Malampaya natural gas field to London-based firm Noble Viking. —VAL, GMA Integrated News