Senators: Tribunal's award only start of legal battle

MANILA, Philippines — Three senators welcomed the decision of the United Nations arbitral tribunal in the Hague that it had jurisdiction to hear claims over the West Philippine Sea, but warned that it signaled the start of a long process.

Senate President Franklin Drilon, Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero and Sen. Grace Poe said the tribunal’s move to side with the Philippines in seven out of the 15 arguments raised is a significant step in the pursuit for third party settlement of the longstanding maritime row.

Escudero stressed that the initial round of the arbitration process is only the beginning of the legal battle.

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"The decision is just the first step. We have not really won anything yet. What this means simply is that the judges have decided that there will be a fight to begin with, and the next step now is for the parties to battle on the merits," Escudero said.

Drilon explained that the ruling gives the Philippines a chance to present the meat of its claims.

"We will now be able to present before the Permanent Court of Arbitration the merits of our claims over areas of the West Philippine Sea disputed by China," Drilon said.

Poe also considers the tribunal’s ruling a "small victory" for the Philippines.

"This is a significant step toward a peaceful resolution. We should all be proud of this victory," Poe said in a statement Sunday. "This just goes to show that we are capable of standing up for our territory, our nation and our rights."

While the tribunal's award on jurisdiction and admissibility was favorable to the Philippines's side, the senators said a lot of work remains for the next hearings.

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The Philippines filed its case before the tribunal under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea in January 2013, seeking clarification on China's expansive claims over the strategic waterway.