By Genalyn Kabiling  The Philippines has assured China that it would not allow the presence of nuclear weapons in the country, including the West Philippine Sea. Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo (OPS / MANILA BULLETIN) President Duterte made the statement to Chinese President Xi Jinping to dispel any speculation the country was supposedly allowing the storage of nuclear weapons in the territory, according to Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo. The President was tackling "irritants" in the West Philippine Sea when he mentioned the nuclear arms issue and the United States during his recent meeting with Xi in Beijing, Panelo said. "I remember kinut short niya because—ganito eh, in fact, I told the President—ganito ang predicate, parang sinabi niya, there are irritants there. Tapos idinagdag niya na, parang ang predicate is baka kayo nandoon, dahil baka akala ninyo kami naglalagay ng mga nuclear arms doon at pinapabayaan namin iyong mga Amerikanong pumunta roon. Eh definitely, hindi ," Panelo said during a Palace press briefing. Panelo said Duterte then informed Xi that the presence of nuclear weapons is prohibited by the country's Constitution. "Unang-una sabi niya, that is against the Constitution. So, hindi kami papayag na merong mga nuclear arms o merong mga Amerikano doon na magtata…, iyon ang huminto siya, tapos bumalik na siya ulit ," he said. The President earlier raised the West Philippine Sea concerns, including the situation in Pag-asa Island, during his bilateral meeting with Xi in Beijing last Thursday. Among the concerns of the Philippines are the presence of the Chinese ships near Pag-asa Island, the alleged harassment of Filipino fishermen, and the alleged poaching of giant clams in Panatag Shoal. In the meeting, Duterte and Xi agreed to resolve the conflict through bilateral negotiations, insisting that the situation should not affect the cooperation between the two nations. Duterte also told Xi his resolve to make the South China Sea a sea of peace, stability and prosperity, according to Panelo. "He expounded the need for both countries to exercise restraint and caution to avoid actions that could complicate situations,” Panelo added. The President also mentioned the 2016 arbitral ruling that nullified China's claims on the resource-rich South China Sea during the meeting with Xi. China however still reportedly refused to recognize the decision made by the Hague-based Permanent Court of Arbitration. Panelo, speaking to reporters, claimed that Duterte was not slighted by China's refusal to respect the arbitral decision. "How can he be slighted, that has been their position ever since. From the very start, that has been the position of China and from the very start also, that is also our position that it is ours," he said. "What is important to me is open sila na i-resolve ang dispute doon sa negotiation table," he added. In January 2017, Duterte accused the United States of placing the country in danger by unloading arsenal into some parts of country, and threatened anew to cancel a security pact with the long-time strategic ally. The President reminded Washington that building permanent weapons depot was prohibited under the Philippines-US visiting forces agreement (VFA).