OSG needs P10 million to study legal options on WPS

MANILA, Philippines — The Office of the Solicitor General’s 2024 budget should be increased by P10 million to further study how the Philippines can enforce its 2016 maritime victory against China, the OSG said.

“The study will be useful to the President and the Department of Foreign Affairs in determining our future course of action with respect to the West Philippine Sea,” Solicitor General Menardo Guevarra said on Wednesday.

Guevarra recently confirmed that he had formed a panel of experts that will study the country’s options regarding the arbitral tribunal victory.

The additional funding is necessary for the OSG’s special team to fulfill its mandate in recommending legal steps the national government can take to enforce The Hague’s 2016 ruling invalidating China’s nine-dash line virtually claiming the entire South China Sea, Cagayan de Oro 2nd District Rep. Rufus Rodriguez told the House appropriations committee.

Last May, Rodriguez told the Philippine Coast Guard to seek the Philippine Navy’s assistance in installing more navigational buoys inside the 200-mile exclusive economic zone in the West Philippine Sea to further prevent China’s incursions.

“China should leave that area. They have no business occupying certain islets and sea features there,” he said.

Alon 2023

The joint marine forces of the Philippines, Australia and the United States demonstrated an amphibious landing assault on a mock enemy-controlled island in San Antonio, Zambales yesterday to show coordination between the countries.

President Marcos and Australian Deputy Defense Minister Richard Marles witnessed the exercise, the main event of the first-ever bilateral amphibious exercise between the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Australian Defense Force (ADF), supported by the US.

“The exercise is not designed as a sort of preparation against a particular enemy. It is not designed to prepare for issues in Bajo de Masinloc, West Philippine Sea,” Philippine Marine Corps deputy commandant Brig. Gen. Jimmy Larida said in Filipino and English.

The AFP earlier announced that some 2,000 Filipino, Australian and US soldiers and sailors will participate in Exercise Alon 2023, from Aug. 14 to 31.

Multiple ships and aircraft will be utilized with around 700 personnel from the AFP, 1,200 from ADF and 150 US Marine Corps.

The scenario in Zambales waters facing the West Philippine Sea will involve a mock enemy from the make-believe country of Calabania taking control of an island. – Michael Punongbayan