President Rodrigo Duterte said that the Chinese officials personally offered to take him to the islands in the West Philippine sea with their helicopter so he can plant the Philippine flag.
In a press briefing upon arriving from Thailand early Thursday, Duterte said “Maya-maya makasagasa ka pa ng pating diyan.”
“Ganun ang party nila, kumain kami. Sabi niya ang magtanong isang general, ‘Mag-jet ski ka?’ Sabi ko, ‘Oo.’ Sa isa, ‘Bakit?’ ‘Gusto mong pumunta doon?’ ‘Oo.’ ‘Sige, kukuha ng helicopter dalhin ka namin doon, magdala ka ng flag doon o bayang magiliw tayong lahat,'” Duterte said.
“So what’s the use?” President Duterte said. “You can go there any time. I said, I told them ganito ‘yan, since you are claiming it, I am claiming it, do not impede our travel there.”
“Sabi ko, my coast guard — not the gray ships, not the Navy, huwag. They can go there and visit you, shake your hands, and you can park dito sa amin,” he said. “Wala akong sikreto sabi ko, you can travel around the island at magba-bye ka lang sa fish na nandoon. Island… Sabi ko – you can pass by my territory.”
He said that China may pass by Philippine territory, they just need to inform the military and Philippine government.
“As a matter fact ‘yung Russia nagpadala ng battleship. I said sabi ko, tapatan mo lahat. Nandoon na ‘yung Amerikano, nagpunta na ang Russo, pag… Bigyan mo kami ng exhibit sa inyo. Sabi nila, okay, we will be sending the biggest ship of China. Sabi niya, sige. Sabi ko, sige bisita kayo, magbisita ako,” the President said.
“So I don’t know what kind of… Maybe their aircraft carrier. There are about two. Ginagawa na nila. You are free to enter — just inform my Navy. Inform the Foreign Secretary — Foreign Affairs Secretary, inform my Navy, wala tayong… Maglaro- laro tayo doon. Gusto mo mag-giyera- giyera kayo ng America pero ‘yung sound lang muna. Wala ‘yung totohanan kasi madamay kami because why?” he said.
“I’d like to tell why? I do not want to precipitate a shooting. Once single boom, ang masira ano, ‘yang Panatag, ‘yang Spratly, ang masira ‘yung Palawan, ‘yan ang unang puputok kung hindi kayo bright,” he added.
During a third presidential debate on Apr. 24, 2016 in Dagupan City, the five presidential candidates were asked about their positions in the West Philippine Sea dispute with China.
Duterte made a jet ski remark saying, “I will not go to war…
I will ask the Navy to bring me to the nearest boundary d’yan sa Spratly, Scarborough. Bababa ako, sasakay ako ng jet ski, dala-dala ko ‘yung flag ng Pilipino at pupunta ako doon sa airport nila tapos itanim ko, then I would say, ‘This is ours and do what you want with me.’ eh bahala na kayo. I would stake that claim and if they want to – you know, eh matagal ko ng ambisyon ‘yan na maging hero rin ako, kapag pinatay nila ako doon eh bahala na kayo umiyak dito sa Pilipinas,” Duterte said during the debate last year. – JCE.
Watch the video of President Duterte as he made the jet ski quip during the third presidential debate in Dagupan City.
