MANILA, Philippines – Muling pinagtibay ng Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) nitong Sabado ang pangako nitong panindigan ang 2016 ruling ng Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) at “protektahan kung ano ang nararapat sa atin” sa West Philippine Sea (WPS).
“As the protector of the nation’s territorial integrity, the AFP remains steadfast in its duty to uphold this ruling through deliberate and sustained action,” ayon sa pahayag nito.
“This historic decision upheld the Philippines’ sovereign rights within its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) in the West Philippine Sea,” dagdag nito.
“We continue to carry out regular maritime and aerial patrols, enhance our maritime domain awareness, and support the whole-of-nation approach to ensure the security and well-being of our communities, especially our fisherfolk,” ayon sa AFP.
“Every operation we conduct in the West Philippine Sea reaffirms our commitment to protect what is rightfully ours. With professionalism, vigilance, and resolve, we will continue to defend our territory, uphold our sovereign rights, and promote peace — always anchored on international law and guided by the interests of the Filipino people,” dagdag nito.
Hinikayat ng AFP ang mga pilipino, “to stand united in defense of what is ours today, and in protection of the future. The West Philippine Sea is not just a maritime zone but a lifeline, a legacy, and a symbol of our collective pride and resilience.”
“The AFP stands ready and resolute in its mission to defend our seas, sovereignty; and the strength for our people, nation, and the generations yet to come,” dagdag nito.
The Department of National Defense (DND) on Saturday also issued a statement, saying the ruling serves as a reminder that “the rule of law matters.”
“For countries like the Philippines, an archipelagic nation whose very existence is intertwined with the maritime domain, respect for international law is not just a principle. It is a lifeline,” ayon kay DND Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr..
“We continue to uphold the Award because it reflects what is right and just – not just for us, but for all coastal states whose rights must be respected under international law. No amount of pressure, reinterpretation, or power plays can erase that truth,” saad niya.
Noong Hunyo 12, 2016, ang PCA na nakabase sa The Hague, Netherlands ay naglabas ng desisyon sa kasong isinampa ng Pilipinas noong Enero 2013.
Ang kaso ay nakasalalay sa legal na katayuan ng mga bahura, bato at mga artipisyal na isla sa grupong Scarborough Shoal at Spratly Island.
Ang 15-puntos na kaso ng Maynila ay kritikal na humihiling sa tribunal na magdesisyon sa katayuan ng tinatawag na “nine-dash line” ng China, isang hangganan na batayan ng 69-taong-gulang na pag-angkin nito sa humigit-kumulang 85% ng South China Sea.
Pinawalang-bisa ng PCA ang malawakang pag-angkin ng Beijing sa South China Sea.
“The Tribunal concluded that there was no legal basis for China to claim historic rights to resources within the sea areas falling within the ‘nine-dash line’,” ayon sa PCA.
Sinabi ng AFP na ang desisyon ng PCA ay “hindi lamang isang legal na tagumpay kundi isang muling pagpapatibay ng lakas ng internasyonal na batas at ang walang-hanggang paghahangad ng kapayapaan, katarungan, at isang kaayusan na nakabatay sa mga patakaran sa ating rehiyon. Ito ay nananatiling moral at legal na kompas, na gumagabay sa ating mga aksyon sa pagtatanggol ng pambansang soberanya.”
Binago ng Pilipinas nitong Biyernes ang panawagan nito sa China na sumunod sa siyam na taong gulang na desisyon ng arbitrasyon na nagpawalang-bisa sa malawakang pag-aangkin ng Beijing sa South China Sea, na nagsasabing lahat ng mga bansa, “anuman ang laki, lakas, o kapasidad ay dapat matugunan ang kanilang mga tungkulin at obligasyon” sa ilalim ng internasyonal na batas. RNT/MND
