Published on: Friday, April 16, 2021 By: CNN Philippines The Guardian pic. MANILA: The Duterte administration has “always been consistent” in invoking Philippines’ sovereignty over the West Philippine Sea, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said. “The National Task Force on West Philippine Sea has always been consistent in invoking Philippine sovereignty and sovereign rights over West Philippine Sea,” said Roque in a statement. Roque cited President Rodrigo Duterte’s (pic) move to raise the importance of the 2016 arbitral ruling, favoring the Philippines’ claims in the disputed waters, before the United Nations General Assembly in September last year. ADVERTISEMENT Malacañang assured the presence of Philippine maritime security and law enforcement forces in Kalayaan, Palawan has been beefed up to protect Filipino fishermen and marine resources. The municipality is near the islands reclaimed by Chinese and surrounded by China-based maritime militia vessels, despite those being under the country’s exclusive economic zone.