endIndex: Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 10) – President Rodrigo Duterte claims he is not afraid of facing retired Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonio Carpio regarding the West Philippine Sea issue, despite withdrawing from the debate he himself initiated. "Hindi ako takot sa iyo. Ang problema, hindi ko naalala na hindi ikaw ang presidente," Duterte said during his national address on Monday. [Translation: I'm not afraid of you. The problem is I forgot that you are not the president.] Duterte added that if he went through with the debate against Carpio, his words might bind future government actions in resolving issues in the West Philippine Sea.