Palace: Independence Day at Pag-asa part of Duterte's independent foreign policy

MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte's plan to celebrate Independence Day on Pag-asa Island would be symbolic of the administration's independent foreign policy, a Malacañang official said Friday.

Duterte earlier said that he might visit Pag-asa, an area under Kalayaan town in Palawan, on June 12 to mark Independence Day.

"In the coming Independence Day, I might, I may go to Pag-asa Island to raise the flag there," Duterte told reporters on Thursday.

Presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella said that Duterte's announcement of his plans to improve Pag-asa Island is part of his mandate to serve the best interests of the nation.

The president vowed to support improvements and repairs of the runway on the island.

"It will be significant that it will be the first time a president visits and commemorates Independence Day in this municipality," Abella said in a statement.

Duterte will be accompanied by the governor, the three representatives of Palawan and leaders of the municipality of Kalayaan if the visit pushes through.

"The government maintains its commitment for the development of these islands for the benefit of our citizens thereat," Abella said.

Pag-asa is the largest feature in the nine islets that the Philippines controls in the Spratly Islands in the West Philippine Sea.

Other Philippine-occupied islets in Spratlys are Ayungin Shoal, Lawak Island, Parola Island, Patag Island, Kota Island, Rizal Reef, Likas Island and Panata Island.

Duterte made the statement on going to Pag-asa following reports that China is nearly finished with the construction of its facilities in Subi (Zamora), Mischief (Panganiban) and Fiery Cross (Kagitingan) Reefs in the Spratys Islands.

The construction of these facilities would allow Beijing to deploy military assets at any time in the region.

The president said that he has ordered the Armed Forces of the Philippines to occupy the country's controlled islands in the West Philippine Sea to assert sovereignty.