SolGen: Let rule of law prevail in West Philippine Sea
116TH INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATION
WITH the Philippines in the midst of a longstanding tension against China over ownership claims in the West Philippine Sea, Solicitor General Francis Jardeleza reiterated and explained the country’s stance during the 116th celebration of Philippine Independence Day in Dagupan City last June 12.
In a speech read for him by Assistant Solicitor General Karl Miranda at the CSI Stadia, where the celebration was transferred due to the rain spawned by Typhoon “Ester”, Jardelez said that as the Philippines asserts its right to the disputed territories, the country is also maintaining a stance of allowing the “rule of law” prevail.
He likened the initiatives being taken by the Philippines on the issue of the West Philippine Sea to the sacrifice made by the Filipino heroes in 1898 to win independence from Spain.
Jardeleza noted that the Philippines and China have been in discussion for 17 years over the matter, but no agreement has been reached to this day.
China’s continuous aggressive action in the area has prompted the Philippines to bring the dispute to the United Nations, under the ambit of the United Nations Convention on the Laws of the Sea (UNCLOS).
The UNCLOS, he said, is the law that governs all the seas all over the world. It spells out regulations that nations must follow on issues pertaining to boundaries, claims and exploitation of resources and in mediating disputes of countries with conflicting interest in an area.
The Philippines, Jardeleza said, insists that under UNCLOS, China has no right to any of its claims in the West Philippine Sea, which includes the Scarborough Shoal, Mabini Reef and Ayungin Shoal.
Dagupan, along with all the other coastal towns and cities in Pangasinan face the West Philippine Sea.
Jardeleza expressed optimisim that China’s hard stance will prove to be temporary because it will eventually bow to international law as a member of the international community.
“China needs to fulfill its obligation in order to maintain its reputation and good standing,” Jardeleza said, adding that in this case, the Philippines is prepared to wait.
Officials — under the cover of umbrellas — laid wreaths at the foot of the monuments of Dr. Jose Rizal and Andres Bonifacio along with his co-founders of the Katipunan before the commemoration was moved to the covered stadium.–LVM
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