Malugod na ikinatuwa ng Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) ang pagkakalagay ng West Philippine Sea (WPS) sa Google Maps, na itinuturing nitong pagkilala sa soberanong karapatan ng bansa ayon sa 2016 Arbitral Ruling sa ilalim ng UNCLOS.
Ayon kay AFP spokesperson Col. Francel Padilla, mahalaga ito sa pagpapalaganap ng tamang impormasyon at kamalayan ng publiko.
“As defenders of national sovereignty, the AFP sees this as a valuable contribution to truthful representation and public awareness,” ani AFP spokesperson Col. Francel Margareth Padilla.
Ang WPS ay opisyal na pinangalanan noong 2012 sa ilalim ng Administrative Order No. 29 at sakop nito ang bahagi ng exclusive economic zone ng Pilipinas, kabilang ang Luzon Sea, Kalayaan Island Group, at Bajo de Masinloc.
“The maritime areas on the western side of the Philippines are hereby named the West Philippine Sea. These areas include the Luzon Sea as well as waters around, within and adjacent to the Kalayaan Island Group and Bajo de Masinloc, also known as Scarborough Shoal,” dagdag pa niya. RNT
