(UPDATE) THE Philippines cannot close its eyes to what is happening in the West Philippine Sea, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said, as he underlined the importance of the trilateral cooperation between Japan, the Philippines and the United States in maintaining peace and stability in the region.

During a meeting with Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines Endo Kazuya in Malacañang, the President raised the need to find a way to maintain regional peace and at the same time respond to the actual situation in the disputed waters.