DAVAO CITY — Incoming Solicitor General Jose Calida on Saturday said he is “very hopeful” that the Philippines will win its arbitration case against China on the disputed West Philippine Sea.
“We are very hopeful that we will win this case,” Calida told reporters at Royal Mandaya Hotel.
The former Justice undersecretary said he recently met with incumbent Solicitor General Florin Hilbay, who briefed him and incoming foreign affairs secretary Jun Yasay on the case.
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“During that meeting we only discussed the West Philippine Sea dispute with China, he said.
“It’s really a complicated issue but according to the solicitor general now, around 70 to 80 percent we will win this case,” Calida said.
Asked what will happen if the country wins the case with the international tribunal, Calida said, “Well we will cross the bridge when we get there. We will wait for the decision then we will make our move.”
The Philippine government earlier asked the international tribunal in The Hague to rule on the validity of China’s controversial 9-dash line claim.
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Overworked lawyers
He said another issue he wants to address is the overwhelming number of cases that each solicitor handles.
“Did you know that they handle 1,500 cases? Each solicitor,” he said.
“We have around 250 solicitors and we are still recruiting. I want to recruit the best and the brightest,” Calida said
He said he wants to bring up the number of solicitors to 300 or more — “as much as our budget can afford.”
Asked what his priority will be? He said it is to “win every case that we will handle.”
Calida currently heads J. Calida & Associates Law Firm and the Vigilant Investigative and Security Agency.
He was Justice undersecretary from 2001 to 2004 and was executive director of Dangerous Drugs Board from Jan. 21 t Oct. 31, 2004. CDG
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