By Argyll Cyrus Geducos President Duterte said that the Recto Bank incident is not an attack on the country's sovereignty despite it happening in the Philippines' Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). President Rodrigo Roa Duterte delivers his speech following the oath-taking ceremony of his son, Vice Mayor Sebastian Duterte, at the Sangguniang Panlungsod in Davao City on June 21, 2019. (JOEY DALUMPINES / PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN) Duterte made the statement as the government moves to resolve the incident which resulted in the abandonment of 22 Filipino fishermen by a Chinese vessel that hit their anchored boat on June 9. READ MORE:  Chinese vessel sinks Filipino fishing boat in collision, fishermen abandoned on the scene In a speech in Davao City Friday evening, Duterte said that the incident did not happen inside the country's territory so it cannot be called an attack on Philippine sovereignty. "Remember, na yung sa (that) Recto Reed, it was not a matter of sovereignty. Twelve miles lang tayo (We were only given 12 miles), that is part of our territory as a republic. Beyond that ang binigay sa atin (that already) is the exclusive economic zone," he said. "It is not an attack on our sovereignty. Malayo 'yan (That is far from our territory). Sovereignty is the republic," he added. Duterte then shot down suggestions from unnamed people to send the Navy in the Recto Bank, reiterating that the Philippines cannot attack China because it may end up in a war. "'Pag inatake mo 'yan (If you attack), that’s going to be a war. Pero yung sabihin mo na, dito and they keep on insisting kagaya ng walang alam, sabi na we will go to ganun, ganun, ganun, puntahan natin ng warships… Kaya mo kaya (But if you say that we should send warships like those people who know nothing, can you handle it)?" the President said. "Kaya mo ang missile ng China? Pag alis pa lang ng Marines ko diyan sa Palawan ubos na yan. Bakit (Can you handle China's missiles? My Marines will be pulverized shortly after they leave Palawan)… I will not do that. Ngayon ilagay mo ako (Now), you will have to place me in a very advantageous position to…" he added. Duterte has been consistent in telling the public that there is going to be war if the Philippines goes against China, or sends military presence in the disputed water. He even urged those who want a war to go to the West Philippine Sea first. The President was silent about the Recto Bank incident for eight days before speaking about it, telling the public again of a possible war against China. However, also on Friday, Duterte explained that he is not afraid of China but is afraid that the Philippines may not stand a chance against the Asian giant if a war breaks out. The President also said that the Philippines cannot just invoke its Military Defence Treaty with the United States because "no one even died" in what he called a "little maritime incident." Early this month, Duterte expressed confidence that China nor the US will start a war because it would mean the end of the world.