The Filipinos including government officials and politicians have rejoiced Philippines win in territorial case it filed against China before the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, Netherlands.
Displaying a big Philippines flag and rattling the drums, hundreds of people mostly members of US Pinoys for Good Governance gathered at Aristocrat Baywalk, Roxas Boulevard, Manila, at around 3p.m. on Tuesday to release several balloons to celebrate the landmark tribunal's ruling.
The celebrants called on China to abide by the UN Convention on the law of the Sea, and to respect Philippine Sovereignty over its Exclusive Economic Zone, which includes the Scarborough Shoal, Kalayaan Islands, Mischief Reef, and Ayungin Shoal.
Meanwhile, Filipino officials and politicians posted their respective statements on their Facebook pages after the UN Arbitral Tribunal handed down its decision on Philippines protest against China’s illegal occupation of Philippine territories in the West Philippine Sea, ruling out that China's nine-dash line claim over the disputed waters is invalid.
Ambassador Lauro Baja, a permanent representative to the UN for the Republic of the Philippines, said that the challenge now for the Filipinos is how to parlay this (ruling on the case) into big winnings to protect and promote the country's concern in the West Philippines Sea.
"What the immediate move I see right now is to engage China on talks about the award," Baja said. "Of course, the China does not recognize the decision but sometimes directs bare fruits.
Our option would be mainly diplomatic. Now is the time to study on how we can leverage our success in the panel vis-a-vis the China, vis-a-vis the other stakeholders or the allies like the US, Japan, Korea, Australia and the ASEAN. We must now take some affirmative actions in this regard so that our victory could be taken up for implementation," Baja said.
For Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Isagani Zarate, he said the favorable ruling of The Hague Arbitral Tribunal "strengthens and solidifies the Philippine position in future bilateral talks with China, especially now that her expansionist 9-dash line theory is declared without legal, historical and moral basis."
"Despite the ruling in favor of the Philippines, we call on the international community to step in and pressure China to de-escalate the situation in the West Philippine Sea and should stop militarizing the area," he said.
“China has already reclaimed at least 7 of our reefs such as the Panganiban (Mischief), Mabini (Johnson South), Gavin (Gaven), Calderon (Cuarteron), Hughes (Kennan), Malvar (Eldad) and Kagitingan (Fiery Cross) Reefs, that are clearly within Philippine territory and exclusive economic zone but hardly anything has been done by the previous Aquino administration to effectively address it," said the progressive solon.
Zarate also said that in addition to the international support against China’s provocative acts,"we also urged the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte to initiate further diplomatic moves to strengthen our own claims and fortify our positions, even as we engaged China in mutually beneficial bilateral or multilateral talks."
“Every Filipino here or abroad should defend our territory, our exclusive economic zones, our national sovereignty," Zarate said.
Meanwhile, former Akbayan Representative Walden Bello, wrote that "hopefully, the Duterte administration will stand firm on this ruling.
Senator Loren Legarda said in her Facebook page the International Tribunal of the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea has spoken and that as state parties to the UNCLOS and responsible members of the international community, we are duty-bound to respect its decision.
"I welcome the impartial, authoritative decisions rendered by the Tribunal and can only hope that these will serve as guideposts for the parties in this dispute. It serves no valid purpose to further exacerbate the dispute by refusing to heed the decision handed down by the Tribunal, for in the end, such refusal to honor its decision will only undermine the primary objective of the UNCLOS – and that is to establish a legal order for the seas to promote its peaceful use," Legarda said.
Senator Grace Poe, political rival of Duterte in the May 9 presidential race, said: "I join the nation in welcoming the landmark decision of the Arbitral Tribunal affirming the rights of our country over its 200-mile exclusive economic zone in the West Philippine Sea."
She said the resolution rendered "in this historic case confirms our stand that we fully adhere to the rules of international law in the peaceful settlement of disputes."
The Senator said the West Philippine Sea is theirs and this legal and moral victory is significant as it will provide the government a binding ruling under the UNCLOS and international law in dealing with China as well as the allies, in whatever mode of negotiation that may be taken by the current administration to ensure compliance of parties involved.
"The Tribunal’s ruling is no paper judgment. Our government should exhaust all avenues and encourage full compliance of the decision through peaceful and diplomatic means. The landmark decision of the Arbitral Tribunal is a historic victory for our Country."
"Equally important is that, based on early reports, it is definitive, categorical and expectedly upheld the provisions of UNCLOS which could help the Duterte Administration in pursuing the next course of action. Lastly, the favorable decision is a vindication of the foreign policy direction of the Aquino Administration,
"The Tribunal concluded that there was no legal basis for China to claim historic rights to resources within the sea areas falling within the ‘nine-dash line," Poe said.
Senator Risa Hontiveros also said: I join the Filipino people in celebrating the United Nations' Permanent Court of Arbitration ruling in favor of the Philippines' rightful claim over the West Philippine Sea.
"The historic decision is a triumph of Philippine sovereignty and international law; it is a "slingshot" that struck "Goliath China's" bullying in the region," she said.
She commended the previous government for filing the arbitration case in the face of continuing Chinese continuing threats and incursions in the Philipppine territory.
"I commend the Filipino people, particularly our fisherfolk, for their strong, peaceful and united resolve to defend the country's sovereignty in the West Philippine Sea. This is our victory. I trust that the Duterte administration will build on this victory to further safeguard the country's sovereignty and marine jurisdiction in the West Philippine Sea and in advancing genuine peace and regional stability."
"This historic win must be strengthened by the new government. To deviate from the spirit of this ruling would render the victory hollow and our sovereignty compromised," the senator further said.
According to her, the Duterte administration must capitalize on the decision to strengthen international public opinion to our favor and mobilize allies to rally behind our sovereignty. This should be a signal to China to end its bullying and militarist expansion in the region. The US government must also be reminded that the West Philippine Sea should not be a staging ground for their superpower games.
She also encouraged the government to craft an interdependent and progressive foreign policy guided by the Hague ruling.
"It should serve as the administration's reference to upholding national sovereignty and territorial integrity in the region. President Duterte must use all democratic multilateral platforms to protect our national interest and foster stronger ties with our regional neighbors.
The Senator called on the Chinese government to respect the ruling of the Permanent Court of Arbitration. "As a regional leader and emergent global power, China must prove to the international community that it abides by the international law and is committed to regional peace."
Also Senator JV Ejercito, the son of former President now Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada, said they welcome the Permanent Court of Arbitration's favorable decision for the Philippines which declares that China has no historic title over West Philippine Sea or South China Sea.
"It is only proper that the unanimous decision of the international tribunal's members must be respected in our collective pursuit for peaceful resolution of the dispute," Ejercito said.
President Rodrigo Duterte's foreign affairs officials have called for sobriety after the Philippines won the maritime case it filed against China before the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) in The Hague in the Netherlands.
In a press conference after the ruling was released on Tueday, Foreign Affairs Secretary Pefecto Yasay said: "Our experts are studying the Award with the care and thoroughness that this significant arbitral outcome deserve. In the meantime, we call all concern to exercise restraint and sobriety."
In Malacañang, President Rodrigo Duterte was scheduled to hold a Cabinet meeting with the landmark ruling on the agenda, according to GMA News report.
Communications Secretary Martin Andanar was quoted as saying that President Duterte will reserve comment on the issue until he receives a complete and thorough interpretation” of the decision.
“We shall wait for SolGen’s interpretation of the ruling. The SolGen shall provide the President a synopsis of the ruling tomorrow morning and a complete and thorough interpretation in 5 days,” Andanar said.
President Duterte earlier cautioned against using the favorable decision to “taunt or flaunt.”
China, meanwhile, has boycotted the hearings of the UN arbitration tribunal and has earlier said it will ignore any ruling on the case saying the tribunal does not have jurisdiction over the dispute.
China's state-run Xinhua news agency earlier described the UN arbitration tribunal as a "law-abusing tribunal."
The Philippine Embassy in China warned its citizens to be aware of "threats to their welfare and the safety of their belongings because of the current situation or political issue." MGP News
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