UPDATE 1-Philippines turns up heat on China over boats massing in South China Sea

* Protest to be filed every day of delay -foreign ministry
* Philippines will not cede territory - Duterte spokesman
* Presence of boats a stain on relations - Duterte aide

(Recasts to add comment from presidential spokesman, foreign
ministry warning of protests)
By Neil Jerome Morales
MANILA, April 5 (Reuters) - Aides of Philippine President
Rodrigo Duterte on Monday criticised China for what they called
territorial incursions by hundreds of its vessels, which his
legal counsel warned could damage ties and lead to "unwanted
hostilities".
In some of the strongest words yet from Duterte's camp about
China's conduct in the South China Sea, his lawyer Salvador
Panelo called the prolonged presence of boats an unwelcome stain
on relations that risked "unwanted hostilities that both
countries would rather not pursue".
"We can negotiate on matters of mutual concern and benefit,
but make no mistake about it - our sovereignty is
non-negotiable," Panelo said in a statement.
Duterte's spokesman Harry Roque echoed the view and told a
news conference: "We will not give up even a single inch of our
national territory or our exclusive economic zone (EEZ)."
China's embassy in Manila did not immediately respond to a
request for comment.
Though Philippine diplomats and top generals have spoken out
against China lately, the comments from the presidential palace
are unusually strong given Duterte's reluctance to confront
Beijing, which he has sought to befriend.
His refusal to press China to respect a landmark 2016
arbitral ruling that clarified the Philippines sovereign rights
in its EEZ has frustrated nationalists, who accuse Duterte of
gambling with territory in return for elusive Chinese
investment.
Duterte has previously said challenging China was pointless
and risked starting a war.
The Philippines last month filed a diplomatic protest over a
"swarming and threatening" presence of 220 Chinese vessels it
believed to be manned by militias at Whitsun Reef, a stance
backed by ally the United States. On Monday, its foreign ministry rejected China's view that
Whitsun Reef was a traditional fishing ground in its waters, and
said it would send a diplomatic protest each day that China
boats stayed there.
It said the boats "blatantly infringe" on Philippine
jurisidction.
Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan, China and Vietnam also have
competing claims for islands and features in the area.
Panelo also said the Philippines would not be blinded by
China's humanitarian gestures, referring to millions of COVID-19
vaccines donated by China.