AFP assures Duterte's safety in planned visit to disputed island

The Armed Forces on Friday promised to ensure President Rodrigo Duterte's safety should he push through with his planned historic visit to Pag-asa Island.

"We will ensure he gets there safely, and he goes back safely," Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) spokesman BGen. Resituto Padilla told CNN Philippines.

Duterte on Thursday said he might go to Pag-asa Island, to raise the Philippine flag there on June 12, Independence Day.

Pag-asa Island, internationally known as Thitu Island, is one of the biggest islands in the Kalayaan group in the contested Spratlys. It is part of the municipality of Kalayaan in the province of Palawan.

The AFP dispelled fears that Duterte's move might raise tensions with other claimant countries, including China, which claims ownership of almost the entire South China Sea, including the Spratlys.

"We don't see anything wrong with that, these are effectively occupied areas, this is a municipality of the Republic of the Philippines, and hence the president and commander-in-chief has the right to do what he wants to do," Padilla said.

But he said it would be best to consult with all concerned parties, including China.

In late 2015, China expressed "strong dissatisfaction" after a group of young Filipinos made a "patriotic voyage" to Pag-asa Island, amid rising tensions in the South China Sea.

Foreign Affairs Spokesman Charles Jose said the President's visit aimed to improve the living conditions of residents of Kalayaan, but the country remained "committed to improving our relations with China and other partners in the region."

Should everything go as planned, Duterte would be the first President to set foot on Kalayaan, officials said.

"It will be significant that it will be the first time a President visits and commemorates Independence Day in this municipality. It will also be symbolic of our independent foreign policy," Presidential Spokesman Ernesto Abella said in a statement.

He said the President would be accompanied by Palawan Gov. Jose Alvarez, three Palawan congressmen, and municipal leaders of Kalayaan.

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

Duterte earlier said he had ordered the Armed Forces to "occupy" all nine islands in the Kalayaan group.

But Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana clarified these islands had been in the Philippines' possession "since long ago," stressing that government troops have been deployed in each of the islands.

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