Palace: PHL to pursue diplomatic solution on Mabini reef dispute with China

Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. answers questions from the media in a press briefing on Malacanang Friday when he advised people to remain vigilant until the exit of Typhoon Yolanda from the Philippine area of responsibility. He also commended the people along the typhoon path for heeding the call of the government to evacuate and take the necessary precautions as the typhoon approached. (Photo by Robert Viñas/Rodolfo Manabat/Malacanang Photo Bureau)

MANILA — Malacanang maintained Friday that the government will continue pursuing diplomatic solution in addressing conflict with China over its reclamation activities on a disputed reef in West Philippine Sea.

“According to our Constitution, we have renounced war as an instrument of national policy,” said Presidential Communication Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Sonny Coloma said in a Palace press briefing.

Coloma pointed out that the Philippines is a Pacific country and it has declared its policy on peaceful settlement of differences.

He stressed the country only released photos of China’s reclamation project on Mabini Reef.

“What we have done is to report what is empirically established through photographs and through actual observation to point out that these activities are not consistent with the (ASEAN) Declaration on the Code of Conduct, that’s all,” he stressed.