Palace: Duterte not abandoning Hague ruling

PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte is not abandoning the international ruling invalidating China’s sweeping claims in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea), Malacañang assured the public on Thursday, even after the Chief Executive said he would ignore it in exchange for a joint oil and gas exploration deal with Beijing.

Palace spokesman Salvador Panelo made the statement after former Foreign Affairs Chief Albert del Rosario said the Philippine government needed to set aside the arbitral ruling to conduct a joint exploration in the country's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).