MANILA – The Philippines’ arbitral victory over the West Philippine Sea was no mere piece of paper, according to retired Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio.
The 501-page ruling issued by the arbitral tribunal in July 2016 invalidated China’s sweeping claims to the contested waters.
The Tribunal was established pursuant to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
“Pagpumirma ka sa UNCLOS – pumirma ang Tsina, pumirma rin tayo – nakalagay doon you agree to comply with the decision of the arbitral tribunal,” said Carpio over the weekend.
“Hindi scrap of paper ‘yan kasi order ‘yan ng arbitral tribunal. ’Yung Tsina hindi sumunod. They are what we call now a rogue state, kasi hindi sumusunod sa international law na pumirma naman sila,” he added.
The arbitral victory stemmed from a 2012 standoff that erupted at Scarborough Shoal, a small ring of reefs that lies about 230 kilometers from the Philippines and 650 kilometers from the nearest Chinese landmass.
In 2016, The Hague ruled in favor of Manila giving the Philippines a nearly across-the-board verdict while junking Beijing’s claim to about 90 percent of the South China Sea.
China, however, refused to recognize the ruling.
Carpio also said President Rodrigo Duterte should be mindful with his choice of words since it may become legally binding and cost the country its rights on the contested waters.
“Pagsinabi ni Tsina agree kami kami kay President Duterte na ‘yung arbitral award is a scrap of paper…agreement na agad iyon, binding na iyon,” he said. “’Pag dadalhin natin sa abirtal tribunal, malaki na ang abante nila sa atin kasi we already abandoned it.”
Meanwhile, Vice President Leni Robredo also expressed concern over President Duterte’s recent remarks about the arbitral victory as these have implications for the country even past the term of the current administration.
“Seryoso ‘yun kasi kasarinlan natin at sovereignty ang pinag-uusapan ditto. Hindi mo pwede i-take lightly ang ganung decision. Kaya tayo umabot sa ganung punto dahil sa pananakop sa mga pag-aari natin,” Robredo said.
“’Yung termino namin next year ay tapos na. Pero ‘yung issue…long after wala na kami mahalaga pa din ‘yun para sa Pilipinas. Kaya para sa akin kailangan ‘to i-take seriously,” she added./PN
