PH delegation back in Netherlands for first round of arguments on sea case

THE group of Filipino officials representing the country in a case before the United Nations Arbitral Tribunal is now back in The Hague, Netherlands, for the first round of arguments, a Palace official said.

Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte in a statement said the hearing would start on Tuesday (November 24) and end on November 30.

“Solicitor General Florin Hilbay and principal counsel Paul Reichler briefed the Philippine delegation on the expected flow of the proceedings for the hearing days, assuring that we are fully prepared to present our case to the Tribunal,” she said.

Valte said the 48-member delegation will be headed by Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario.

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Earlier, the tribunal decided that it has jurisdiction over the Philippines’ petition, which clarifies issues pertaining to maritime entitlements.

China, which has been building artificial islands over disputed maritime features, has refused to participate in the proceedings.

Also with the delegation are Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio, Associate Justice and former Solicitor General Francis Jardeleza, Representative Rodolfo Biazon, Chair of the Committee of National Defense and Security of the House of Representatives, Solicitor General Florin Hilbay, Political Affairs Secretary Ronald Llamas, Security Cluster Executive Director Emmanuel Bautista, and Deputy Executive Secretary Menardo Guevarra.

“The entire delegation is comprised of 48 individuals, including 6 Philippine ambassadors from different posts in Europe, counsel, advocates, expert witnesses, and support staff. Of the 48, only 17 are from the home offices of the different departments in Manila,” Valte said.