Experts laud Duterte for West PH sea stance

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In his speech at the 75th United Nations General Assembly, President Rodrigo Duterte raised the Philippines’ legal victory over the 2016 South China Sea ruling in what was considered as a historic move to finally defend the sovereignty of the country.

Now, foreign relations experts and public officials are now calling for Duterte to exert concrete efforts that would solidify the country’s claims in the disputed territory.

“The next step is for our President and his administration to put in reality the invocation of the Arbitral Award: our Government should work earnestly to get the support of more countries so that the Arbitral Award will be raised more emphatically next year, for the UNGA 2021,” former Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert Del Rosario said in a statement.

He said this opportunity should not be wasted.

Former Supreme Court Justice Antonio Carpio also commended Duterte’s strong stance on the issue. He expressed hope that the administration “will implement across all levels” a policy that will protect the West Philippine Sea in the negotiations for the Code of Conduct, and gather more support from the international community.

This was the first time that Duterte appeared before the international body in his four-year presidency.

The tribunal ruling that Duterte cited said there was no legal basis for China to claim historic rights over most of the South China Sea using its “nine-dash line” assertion. It also recognized Philippine sovereign rights in marine features within its exclusive economic zone and said Beijing violated those rights by interfering with fishing and petroleum exploration as well as constructing artificial islands.

House committees to hold hearings during break

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Spread the loveMANILA – The House of Representatives has authorized for its committees to conduct hearings during the five-week congressional break, extending until late April.

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