MANILA, Philippines – ISINASAGAWA na ng National Security Council (NSC) ang updated Philippine map na magbibigay-diin sa maritime entitlements ng bansa alinsunod sa 2016 arbitral ruling at United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
“This is something that we have been working on already, we hope to be able to make an announcement very soon…we are seriously considering it and we already have something in the works,” ayon kay NSC spokesperson Jonathan Malaya sa isang panayam.
Nauna rito, naghain na ng protesta ang Pilipinas laban sa China dahil sa pagpapalabas nito ng 2023 version ng “standard” map na nagpapakita ng kanilang pag-aangkin sa South China Sea.
Kinumpirma ni DFA Assistant Secretary Daniel Espiritu na naghain na sila ng diplomatic protest tungkol sa naturang isyu.
Ang hakbang ng Pilipinas ay dahil sa paglalabas ng Beijing ng standard map na nagpapakita ng 10 dashes na may pormang U Shape kung saan inaangkin nito ang buong South China Sea bilang bahagi ng kanilang teritoryo.
Nakasaad pa rito na sakop nila ang exclusive economic zone (EEZ) ng Pilipinas gayundin ng Malaysia, Brunei, Vietnam at Indonesia.
Sa kabilang dako, sinabi ni Malaya na ang ‘updated map’ ng Pilipinas ay mananatiling sumasailalim sa approval process, “but this will conform to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and the 2016 Arbitral Award,” ayon kay Malaya.
“This landmark ruling invalidated China’s expansive claims in the South China Sea, with the arbitral tribunal largely ruling in favor of Manila in its EEZ and continental shelf that are being claimed by Beijing,” ayon sa NSC.
Winika pa ni Malaya na ang nasabing mapa ay maaaring sumalamin sa ‘Philippine Rise’ na nagpapalawig sa continental shelf sa silangang bahagi ng bansa.
Ang Philippine Rise, dating Benham Rise, ay “13-million hectare underwater plateau near Aurora and is believed to be a good source of natural gas and other resources.”
At nang tanungin naman ukol sa development, sinabi ni retired Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio na sang-ayon siya sa paglikha ng naturan mapa.
“Yes, we should have our own map showing our EEZ and extended continental shelf in the WPS (West Philippine Sea),” aniya pa rin.
Welcome naman kay Maritime law expert Jay Batongbacal ang nasabing hakbang “particularly if it will publicize the full extent of our maritime domain in accordance with the 2016 South China Sea Arbitration Award.”
“Such an action would be among the needed actions to implement the Award. It would also be a good way of informing and assuring our people of the full extent of our archipelago,” dagdag na wika nito. Kris Jose
