Duterte can’t do anything. Their military is poorly equipped and no match for China. I don’t think anyone will stand up to China to be honest and they will continue getting bolder and bolder.
Duterte is VERY Pro-Chinese. Rejected interest-free loans from Japan and South Korea in favor of Chinese loans with a crushingly high interest rate. Hundreds of thousands of Chinese workers are now in the Philippines to build projects. Not a good thing. See Nigeria, Sri Lanka etc.
He already sold-out the Philippines to China.
I wonder if the Philippines regret pushing the US military out 30 years ago.