MANILA, Philippines- Binisita ni Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) Secretary-General Marcin Czepelak ang Pilipinas na nagkataon namang 125th anniversary ng organisasyon.
“We appreciate his visit which provides a valuable opportunity to discuss and strengthen our country’s collaboration with the PCA,” ang sinabi ni National Security Adviser Eduardo Año sa isang kalatas.
“As a member-state, we look forward to engaging in meaningful dialogues to further the PCA’s mission of resolving disputes and advancing international law and the rules-based international order,” dagdag niya.
Ito ang kauina-unahang pagbisita ni Czepelak sa bansa.
Tinukoy naman ni Año ang mahalagang papel ng PCA sa international dispute resolution partikular na sa South China Sea (SCS), kung saan napagtagumpayan ng Pilipinas laban sa Tsina noong 2016.
“The 2016 ruling by a tribunal organized by the PCA remains a significant milestone in our country’s assertion of the primacy of international law,” giit niya.
“The tribunal’s decision affirmed the Philippines’ rights to its exclusive economic zone under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), rejecting China’s extensive claims based on historical grounds,” patuloy ng opisyal.
Ang pagbisita aniya ni Czepelak sa bansa ay nagbibigay-diin sa “dedication in engaging with member states to advance its objectives and foster dialogue on legal and diplomatic issues” ng PCA.
Sa kabilang dako, sa isang post sa X (dating Twitter), Martes ng gabi, sinabi ng PCA na nagsimula ang pagbisita ni Czepelak sa isang pulong kay Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo.
“With two international offices in Hanoi and in Singapore, the PCA continues its outreach activities in the region,” ayon sa PCA.
Nauna rito, sinabi ng Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) na tinawagan ni Czepelak si Manalo sa DFA office sa Pasay City, Martes ng umaga.
“In his call on Secretary Manalo, Dr. Czepelak recognized the Philippines’ support for the international organization, including with the role of Philippine Ambassador to the Netherlands J. Eduardo Malaya as acting President of the PCA Administrative Council, the PCA’s policymaking body, for term 2023-2024,” paglalahad ng PCA.
Samantala, nakatakda namang makapulong ng PCA head ang arbitration community ng bansa sa isang forum ng Philippine Dispute Resolution Center, at makausap ang law practitioners, akademya, at mga estudyante sa isang forum sa Ateneo.
Ang pagbisita ni Czepelak sa Pilipinas ay sa gitna ng nagpapatuloy na tensyon sa SCS dahil na rin sa pagtutulak ng Tsina sa malawakang pag-angkin nito sa lugar sa kabila ng 2016 ruling. Kris Jose
