Solon files resolution commemorating Philippines' victory at the Hague
MANILA, Philippines — On the fifth anniversary of the Philippines' historic arbitral win over China, Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon filed a resolution commemorating the fifth anniversary of the Philippine’s historic legal victory.
To recall, the UN-backed the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague unanimously ruled in favor of the Philippines in 2016 and rejected China's sweeping claims over virtually the entire West Philippine Sea area within its so-called nine-dash line.
“The Philippines’ victory at the Hague should be a lasting reminder that the Filipino is never cowed or daunted, that false promises of economic largesse and military might will not serve to defeat what is right, and that our claims should be valiantly and relentlessly fought for, to ensure that future generations can benefit from the bounty of what is legally ours,” Drilon said in filing Senate Resolution No. 769.
The resolution pointed to what it said was China expansionist tendencies, which “have only grown bolder despite the Arbitral Tribunal’s clear rejection of its broad claims."
Five years after the historic tribunal ruling, Drilon lamented that the country has failed to assert and fully leverage the same in bilateral or multilateral talks with China.
“Despite the filing of diplomatic protests against China’s most recent incursions into Philippine waters, statements have been made downplaying the arbitral award, serving to undermine the international victory which the Philippines has legally and peacefully secured before the PCA,” Drilon said.
The senator urged the Duterte administration "to rally other nations in calling for adherence with the landmark award."
He added that the victory was part of the legacy of the late president Noynoy Aquino.
“International law is a mechanism which allows smaller states, despite lack of military prowess, to stand on equal footing with wealthier, more powerful states, which the Philippines has aptly and bravely utilized without having to incite war when it brought China to court in 2013,” Drilon said.
Senators urge concrete action in WPS
In a separate statement, Sen. Risa Hontiveros called on the Department of National Defense to expedite the building and expansion of facilities in the Kalayaan Island Group in the West Philippine Sea.
"We need to show China that we will no longer be passive about our 2016 victory. If China does not listen to our call, it may have to see with its own eyes what we want to convey. We tirelessly and repeatedly invoke the Arbitral Ruling in our pronouncements, but we should also complement these words with actions. It is time to act,” Hontiveros said.
As it currently stands, over 200 vessels, likely Chinese, remain moored at the Pagkakaisa (Union) Banks in the West Philippine Sea.
Sen. Panfilo Lacson, who chairs the Senate Committee on National Defense and Security, Peace, Unification and Reconciliation, called the ruling an "incomplete victory," saying much remains to be done amid China's increasing presence in the Southeast Asian region.
"Whatever we have done, or have failed to do, and what we must continue to pursue as part of our prerogatives as a law-abiding, democratic, and sovereign nation under this administration - unfortunately - has accrued little to our 'accumulated advantage' in the South China Sea and in the context of Philippine-China relations," Lacson said in a statement.
"On the contrary, we may have done very little in stemming the tide of an increasing Chinese footprint into the ASEAN region's foreign policy, economy, and security."
'Failed leadership'
Earlier Monday, Rep. Rufus Rodriguez (Cagayan de Oro City) also said he filed a similar resolution urging the House of Representatives to declare July 12 of every year as National West Philippine Sea Victory Day to commemorate the victory.
READ: House urged: Declare July 12 West Philippine Sea Victory Day
Vice President Leni Robredo for her part also lamented what she said was the "five years of missed opportunities" for the Philippine government to assert its claim over the territory.
Former foreign affairs chief Albert Del Rosario also pointed to President Rodrigo Duterte's "failure of leadership" in managing the West Philippine Sea tensions over the past five years of his presidency, going as far as questioning the chief executive's loyalty to the country.
President Rodrigo Duterte has asserted that he cannot do anything on the maritime dispute as doing so, he incorrectly claimed, would mean going to war with the regional giant.
Social media users, including former Solicitor General Florin Hilbay, are reporting seeing banners saying "Welcome to the Philippines, Province of China" hanging from overpasses in parts of Metro Manila.
The sightings coincide with the second anniversary of an arbitral tribunal ruling that China's sweeping nine-dash line claim over the South China Sea has no legal basis. The Philippines has opted to play down the ruling and focus on nurturing better political and economic relations with China.
NOT FUNNY.
— florin hilbay (@fthilbay) July 11, 2018
On this day, July 12, we commemorate our victory in Philippines v. China.
On Metro Manila footbridges, these tarps suddenly appear.
MMDA, LGUs, and citizens should immediately take these down. pic.twitter.com/gDR6BMbojI
It is unclear who put up the banners, which are a possible reference to a "joke" that President Rodrigo Duterte told Chinese-Filipino business leaders in February.
"He (Xi) is a man of honor. They can even make us 'Philippines, province of China," we will even avail of services for free," Duterte said in apparent jest. "If China were a woman, I'd woo her."
The Palace said the remark was meant to impress the audience, who were Filipino citizens of Chinese descent.
A week since the seventh anniversary of the historic ruling at The Hague, activist fisherfolk group urges the government to protest the presence of more than 50 Chinese Coast Guard vessels and one "monster ship" in the Ayungin Shoal (Second Thomas Shoal) before the international court.
It says that the swarming of the ships violates the United Nations Convention of the Law of the Sea.
“While the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) recognizes the freedom of navigation and innocent passage in open seas, a swarm of ships that creates tensions could be deemed illegal," Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (PAMALAKAYA) says.
"We urge the Marcos administration to protest and ultimately expel the overwhelming presence of Chinese Coast Guard vessels in our territorial waters. Their presence is a blatant display of military might to assert Beijing’s unjust claim in the West Philippine Sea. President Marcos could raise this recent swarming incident to the United Nations and reassert our sovereign rights upheld by the UNCLOS and other rules of international law," it adds.
A week before the seventh anniversary of the arbitral ruling on the South China Sea, fishers are seeking a stronger assertion of national sovereignty.
In a release, activist fisherfolk group Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (PAMALAKAYA) urges the Marcos administration to “have a stronger action to assert our sovereign rights to China using the arbitral award.”
It stressed that it has been seven years since the Philippines won in the Permanent Court of Arbitration but the Chinese military facilities on seven artificial islands on the Spratlys island remain. It also cited more than 200 Chinese vessels and boats are still regularly patrolling in our territory.
PAMALAKAYA chair Fernando Hicap says President Marcos Jr. should be alarmed over the long-term impact of these actions in the fish production in the country and demanded swift action to protect Filipino fishermen from aggression.
Days after the anniversary of the historic 2016 Hague ruling, China insists the 2016 Hague ruling is "illegal, null and void."
Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Wang Wenbin says: "The so-called award of the South China Sea arbitration seriously violates international law including the UNCLOS."
The ruling invalidates China's nine-dash claims over the South China Sea. However, Wang says: "China neither accepts nor recognizes it and will never accept any claim or action based on the award." — Kaycee Valmonte
The United States reaffirms its commitment to the Philippines on the sixth anniversary of the Hague tribunal ruling.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken says it also reaffirms “that an armed attack on Philippine armed forces, public vessels, or aircraft in the South China sea would invoke U.S. mutual defense commitments under Article IV of the 1951 U.S.-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty.”
Blinken tthen calls on the People’s Republic of China to “abide by its obligations under international law and cease its provocative behavior.”
“We will continue to work with allies and partners, as well as regional institutions like ASEAN, to protect and preserve the rules-based order.” — Kristine Joy Patag with Kaycee Valmonte
The United States reaffirms its commitment to the Philippines on the sixth anniversary of the Hague tribunal ruling.
— Kaycee Valmonte (@kayceevalmonte) July 12, 2022
The US also calls on China to abide by obligations under international law and "cease its provocative behavior" @PhilstarNews pic.twitter.com/mPLRwBGiQU
Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo says July 12, 2016 is remembered as “the day the that affirmed to the community of nations that the rule of law prevails, and that stability, peace and progress can only be attained on a rules-based legal order on the oceans, as it should be everywhere else.”
He adds the award “not only sets reason and right in the South China Sea, but is an inspiration for how matters should be considered—through reason and right—by states facing similarly challenging circumstances.”
Manalo stresses that the findings are conclusive and indisputable, and the award is final.
“We firmly reject attempts to undermine it; nay, even erase it from law, history, and our collective memories. At the same time we welcome the support of a growing list of countries for the Award.” — Kristine Joy Patag
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