Pulong Duterte claps back at Tarriela over China remarks

MANILA, Philippines — Davao City 1st District Rep. Paolo “Pulong” Duterte on Wednesday hit back at Philippine Coast Guard spokesman Commodore Jay Tarriela, saying his remarks urging the public not to “demonize China” were misinterpreted and insisting that disputes between countries should be handled through diplomacy. Duterte said his earlier statement should not be taken to mean that he was siding with China or abandoning the Philippines’ sovereignty over the West Philippine Sea. “Hoy Tarriela… if you studied well at the Philippine Military Academy, you should know that we have what we call diplomatic channels,” Duterte said in a statement…