The additional members in the National Maritime Council (NMC) signify the intent of the Philippine government to consider filing a case against China for its aggressiveness in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).

“The creation of the National Maritime Council also saw the addition of new members. Two or three members were added to the council,” Presidential Assistant for Maritime Concerns Secretary Andres Centino said on Tuesday.

“One of the three is the Solicitor General. So that signifies the intent of the government to consider perhaps the filing of a case, because the Solicitor General is tasked with these things,” he said.

Without naming a specific agency, Centino said the Philippine government will likely file the cases before a United Nations body.

“I would suppose there are United Nations bodies (where we can file the case),” the official added. PND