Watch more in iWantv or TFC.tv

MANILA - A former solicitor general took exception to a Palace official's statement that China's reported missile system in the South China Sea is not directed at the Philippines.

Speaking to ANC Tuesday, lawyer Florin Hilbay said the Philippines is the nearest country to the missile system that was earlier reported by US network CNBC, citing intelligence sources.

"It's false to say the missiles are not directed at us because it's a missile system. It's technically directed at everyone within the range of that missile system and we're nearest to that missile system. It is in fact directed at us," he said.

The new Chinese missiles were reportedly deployed on Fiery Cross Reef, Subi Reef, and Mischief Reef, according to CNBC.

• Beijing 'installs missiles' on South China Sea islands

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque last week said in a statement that Malacañang is concerned over China's reported deployment of missiles.

• Palace airs concern over Chinese missiles in S. China Sea

But he said Malacañang is confident that the missiles are not directed at the Philippines because of the country's close ties with the Asian economic giant.

"[With] our recently developed close relationship and friendship with China, we are confident that those missiles are not directed at us," Roque said in a statement.

• China does not view Philippines as a threat - Palace

CHINA'S 'HISTORY OF DISHONESTY'

But Hilbay said China had already broken its promise not to militarize its artificial islands in the South China Sea. He said the Philippines is seeing a "century-long plan" of China to take control of the major waterway.

"There's a history of dishonesty by China here. When China started reclaiming those areas and started building an island, they said this was for civilian purposes not military. This was for weather purposes for the protection of the fishermen. Now we realize that they have militarized the area," he said.

Hilbay said the government must file a formal protest against China's militarization in the West Philippine Sea and invoke, over and over again, the arbitral ruling that the country won in 2016.

He also said the Philippines needs the help of neighboring countries to enforce the decision.

"The international sheriff at the geopolitical level is the moral force of nations, their ability to tell China you are dependent on international law as well," he said.

Duterte was already the president when the Permanent Court of Arbitration's validated the Philippines' maritime entitlements in the South China Sea. But he has not so far invoked this ruling.

"We have to realize there are so many overlapping interests here and a lot of those interests coincide with the Philippines'. They have an interest in clarifying their rights of all the parties in the area," Hilbay added.