Plea for protection of West PH Sea junked – SolGen

Filipino fishermen who were rescued after their fishing boat was hit by a Chinese vessel transfer to another ship as they head back to Occidental Mindoro on June 14, 2019. AP
Filipino fishermen who were rescued after their fishing boat was hit by a Chinese vessel transfer to another ship as they head back to Occidental Mindoro on June 14, 2019. AP

MANILA – The Writ of Kalikasan petition urging government officials to protect the West Philippine Sea has been dismissed, Solicitor General Jose Calida said.


Calida said both parties involved in the petition have agreed for the dismissal of the case after the 19 fishermen supposedly withdrew their signatures and denied they were part of the plea filed against the government.


Wala kaming alam dito at hindi namin suportado ang inihaing petisyon,” Calida said during the Supreme Court’s oral arguments on the case, quoting an affidavit from one of the fishermen.


He added: “These statements show deception, your honors. As for petitioner IBP, they did not even allege what capacity it is suing, or what injury it has sustained.”

The Integrated Bar of the Philippines has filed a petition before seeking a Writ of Kalikasan asking the government to preserve, restore, and rehabilitate Panatag Shoal, Ayungin Shoal, and Panganiban Reef amid the dispute with China. 


These areas, internationally known as Scarborough Shoal, Second Thomas Shoal, and Mischief Reef, are all parts of the contested West Philippine Sea.


The petition stated that the marine features have been heavily damaged due to China’s supposed artificial island building activities in the area.


In July 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague ruled in favor of the Philippines versus China, recognizing the Philippines’ sovereign rights within its 200-nautical mile Exclusive Economic Zone.


However China refused to recognize the ruling and has built artificial islands, prohibited Filipino fishermen from fishing and interfered in oil exploration activities in the area./PN

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