Concom asserts Philippine sovereign rights on national territory

MANILA, Philippines — President Duterte’s consultative committee (Concom) has put more weight on the provision of the Constitution’s Article 1, obliging the government to assert its claim on sovereignty and sovereign rights on national territory. 

Fr. Ranhilio Aquino, a member of the Concom, said they have agreed to emphasize that the new article should be in conformity with the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea and the arbitral decision in favor of the Philippines.

Aquino also emphasized that the Philippines must be firm in its claims to the Philippine (Benham) Rise as well as the provisions pursuant to the laws of the federal republic, the law of the nations and the judgment of competent international courts or tribunals. 

“Very significant to us was the resolution of the (United Nations) convention on the limits on the continental shelf that recognize that Benham Rise is a continental shelf of the Philippines and also the arbitral judgment that recognized our sovereign rights,” Aquino said. 

Unlike the current provision of Article 1 on national territory, Aquino emphasized there will be two separate sections in the new provision, which will emphasize the country’s sovereignty and sovereign rights. 

He explained that the sovereignty section refers to the country’s fullness of power over its territory, territorial seas and airspaces, while sovereign rights are the rights granted by a coastal state to its exclusive economic zone. 

Aquino said they would meet with the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to get the agency’s comments about the proposed provision of Article 1 and make some adjustments if needed.

Aquino, however, pointed out that the DFA will not be the one to make the changes, but the Concom members through voting and deliberation of the agency’s feedback on the matter.

Asked how the proposed provision would affect the good friendship established between Duterte and China, Aquino said it would not happen, but stressed the government can make any agreement with other countries that would be beneficial to the people.

He emphasized, though, that the agreements should be bound by the country’s sovereignty and sovereign rights. 

“We are asserting our sovereign rights, we are asserting our sovereignty, but in the exercise of the sovereignty, the Philippines can also enter into agreements with other countries, including China, that may be beneficial to the republic,” he said. 

The provision on the national territory will be voted on by the entire Concom.