Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel "Babe" Romualdez on Wednesday believed there will be a time that the Philippines "will rise up" in its fight for the West Philippine Sea.
While wishing it would not be tested, Romualdez said, the patience of the Filipino people is "very high" but also has "its limits."
"We have just sat by and just tried our best to talk to them to try and just simply allow our fishermen to fish," he said in an interview with ANC.
"But you know, the Filipino patience has also its limits. And I know that...one day, I hope it never happens, that the Filipino will rise up and say enough is enough," he added, hoping this stance would be relayed to those challenging the country's territorial rights.
Currently, the Philippines has competing claims against China over the South China Sea, particularly over the West Philippine Sea. A 2016 Arbitral Tribunal Ruling rejected the Chinese so-called nine-dash claim over the disputed waters, which turned in favor of the Philippines.
Romualdez' pronouncement came as the United States, through US Vice President Kamala Harris who just left the country after a working visit, promised to stand with the Philippines in case of any armed attack on its armed forces or assets in the South China Sea.
The envoy said it is "very important" for the country that the West Philippine Sea is ours.
"There's nothing that will make us move otherwise. And I think President Marcos said that very well—we will not give up one inch of our territorial waters," he said.
"And if our allies like the United States will help us, of course, we will. We not only welcome it, we are very happy with that kind of commitment coming from an ally like the United States," he added.