President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered the Philippine military to occupy at least nine Philippine-controlled islands to make a "strong point" about the country’s sovereignty over these areas.
In a press briefing in Puerto Princesa, Palawan, President Duterte said that there is a need to maintain jurisdiction over the disputed waters.
"We tried to be friends with everybody but we have to maintain our jurisdiction now, at least the areas under our control. And I have ordered the armed forces to occupy all – these so many islands, I think nine or ten – build structures and place the Philippine flag," The President said.
The Philippines controls nine islets in the disputed Spratlys region, the largest of which is Pag-asa, an area under Palawan’s fifth class town Kalayaan. Other Philippine-occupied islets in Spratlys are Ayungin Shoal, Lawak Island, Parola Island, Patag Island, Kota Island, Rizal Reef, Likas Island and Panata Island.
"Mukhang agawan kasi ito ng isla eh. And what’s ours now at least kunin na natin and make a strong point there that it is ours," Duterte told reporters.
On July 2016, the United Nations-backed arbitral tribunal based in the Hague, Netherlands issued a ruling on the Philippines' complaint against China's nine-dash line claim over the South China Sea.
Even as Duterte earlier said he would set aside the arbitral tribunal's ruling in efforts to build stronger ties with China, he seems to have changed his stance on the issue. The president, who has been accused of being too cozy with China, said the Philippines would assert its ownership over the areas it controls.
"We have to fortify. I must build bunkers there or houses and make provisions for habitation," Duterte said.
Duterte also said he "may" visit Pag-asa Island on June 12 to mark Independence Day. The island is being occupied by about 180 people, including soldiers.
"In the coming Independence Day, I might, I may go to Pag-asa Island to raise the flag there," he said.
President Duterte also vowed to support improvements and repairs of the runway in Pag-asa.
“The money is there. I don’t know how the—the Army or the engineering battalion would do it. But that development there has my full support,” he said.