MANILA, Philippines- Kapwa nagbabala sina Senate Minority Leader Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III at Senador Grace Poe sa planong paghahain ng panibagong kaso laban sa China sa patuloy na panghihimasok nito sa teritoryo ng Pilipinas sa West Philippine Sea (WPS).
Sa pahayag, kapwa naniniwala sina Pimentel at Poe na hindi na dapat maghain ng panibagong kaso dahil nakapagdesisyon na ng international court laban sa China na pag-aari ng Pilipinas ang mga isla sa WPS.
“Let us not relitigate what we already won. When we file something, we are giving actually the other side a chance to bring up their planned original argument—which they did not bring up because they boycotted the proceedings,” ayon kay Pimentel sa isang panayam kamakailan.
“If we get a negative result here, although it may be on another matter, it can be spinned to mean that it is a reversal of the 2016 Arbitral Ruling,” giit pa niya.
“If our position is that the 2016 arbitral ruling is already final and executory, let us be careful in calling for a filing of anything which can be misconstrued or misinterpreted intentionally as a relitigation of the issues which we have already won,” paliwanag pa ni Pimentel.
Aniya, mas makabubuting igiit ang pagkapanalo sa 2016 arbitral ruling na nasa kamay na ng Pilipinas.
“Hawak na natin yon eh. Let’s pound on it. Let’s be proud that the Philippines has played a role in the enrichment of the international maritime law. Tayo lang yata ang unang nagkaso ng ganitong klase eh,” ayon kay Pimentel.
“Sabi ng decision that the ‘nine-dash line,’ historic rights has no application under [United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea]. So, all of these things dapat we should pound on that ruling which is in our favor. Do not risk that anymore,” dagdag ng lider ng minorya.
Nagpahayag din ng pag-aalala si Poe sa plano ng administrasyon kaya’t nagbabala ito sa naturang hakbang.
“If we file again, baka mamaya mag-iba pa ang ruling,” ayon kay Poe sa ginanap na Kapihan sa Senado kamakailan.
“Usually, the ones that reopen the case are the ones that lose. Eh panalo na tayo dun. So, maybe we should just keep filing diplomatic protests and also ask like minded countries and allies to support us,” dagdag pa niya.
Naunang iminungkahi ni dating Supreme Court Justice Francis Jardeleza na maghain ng panibagong arbitration case upang igiit ang karapatang soberenya ng Pilipinas sa WPS.
Nasa ika-pitong anibersaryo na ang pagkapanalo ng Pilipinas sa Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) hinggil sa exclusive economic zone at ibinasura ang sinasabing “nine-dash line,” ng China.
Isa si Jardeleza sa naghain ng kas laban sa China sa PCA sa The Hague, Netherlands. Ernie Reyes
