In line with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive, the government will continue to assert the Philippines’ sovereignty in the West Philippine Sea through diplomatic and peaceful means, Malacañang said on Tuesday.
The Philippines joined the international community in marking the ninth anniversary of the landmark July 12, 2016, Arbitral Award on the South China Sea that upheld the Philippines’ sovereign rights within its exclusive economic zone in the West Philippine Sea and declared China’s claim to historic rights to be without legal basis.
“Sang-ayon sa paninindigan ni Pangulong Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., patuloy na ipinaglalaban ng pamahalaan ang soberanya ng Pilipinas sa West Philippine Sea sa pamamagitan ng diplomacy, capability-building, international partnerships, at mapayapang pamamaraan,” Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said in a press briefing.
Malacañang rallied Filipinos to continue supporting the 2016 Arbitral Award, emphasizing its importance as a foundation for the Philippines’ maritime rights and sovereignty in the West Philippine Sea.
Castro cited the Pulse Asia survey, conducted from June 26 to June 30, which showed that 73 percent of respondents want the government to continue asserting the country’s sovereign rights in the West Philippine Sea.
Castro said the international commemoration of the ninth anniversary of the Arbitral Award affirmed the Philippines’ commitment to the rule of law and the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
“Naninindigan ang Marcos administration na nanatiling legally binding at nagsisilbing cornerstone ng international maritime law ang arbitral ruling na siya ring nagsilbing gabay sa national policy, kabilang na ang Philippine Maritime Zones Act, at nagpapalakas sa legal at operational posture ng bansa,” Castro stressed. | PND
