Palace Confident of Merit of PHL’s Arguments on Ownership over Islands in West Philippine Sea

(PNA) — Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda is confident that Philippines’ delegation to the Arbitral Tribunal in The Hague will be able to solidify the country’s arguments regarding its ownership over some islands at the West Philippine Sea.

This as the second round of arguments for the country’s case filed before the Arbitral Tribunal at the Permanent Court of Arbitration at the Peace Palace is scheduled Monday this week.

“We are confident that the delegation will be able to thoroughly answer additional questions from the Tribunal and convey the full merit of our arguments. We continue to hope for a favorable ruling,” Lacierda said in a statement.

Last week, Philippine officials from the three branches of government put on a united stance by attending the first round of arguments on the country’s claims under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

Lacierda said Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario talked “about the case’s importance not just to our region but also to the world.”

This, he said, was made “given that the spirit of UNCLOS lies at its core” and “could have implications on the future handling of maritime disputes.”

He said private lawyers from the Washington-based law firm Foley Hoag, which was tapped by the Philippine government and was lead by Paul Reichler, “gave presentations on why the case falls squarely within the Tribunal’s jurisdiction, as well as on the strength of the Philippines’ environmental and fishing claims against the People’s Republic of China.”

Other members of the Philippine delegation who were present during the proceedings are Speaker Feliciano Belmonte, Executive Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa, Jr., Supreme Court Associate Justices Antonio Carpio and Francis Jardeleza, Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Benjamin Caguioa, Sandiganbayan Justice Sarah Fernandez, Undersecretary Emmanuel Bautista, and Deputy Executive Secretary Menardo Guevara. (PNA) RMA/JS/EBP