Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO / NIÑO JESUS ORBETA
Incoming Senate President Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III on Friday said the Philippines must “peacefully assert its power of control” over areas in the South China Sea under its exclusive economic zone after a favorable ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration.
Pimentel said the arbitral court’s ruling “validates the Philippine claim of jurisdiction over certain shoals, reefs and outcrops.”
“We ensure that the exercise of our sovereignty over the West Philippine Sea would bring more development and progress to our country and people,” Pimentel said in a statement, adding that “Filipinos have a reason to be euphoric over the ruling.”
The UN-backed Hague court last Tuesday sided with the Philippines in its maritime case filed in 2013, concluding that “there was no legal basis for China to claim historic rights to resources within the sea areas falling within the ‘nine-dash line.’”
READ: Philippines wins arbitration case vs. China over South China Sea
China rejected the decision as expected, calling it “null and void and has no binding force.”
Pimentel urged China and other nations to “respect such reasonable and objective ruling,” as he maintained that the Philippines would continue to “respect the right and freedom of innocent passage and navigation of all vessels and airplanes in and over the area.”
In a latest development, President Rodrigo Duterte asked former President Fidel Ramos to head the country’s negotiations with China, but the latter has yet to accept the offer.
READ: Duterte asks FVR to head negotiations with China, says ‘war not an option’
In his statement before the 11th Asia-Europe summit in Mongolia, Foreign Affairs Secretary Perfecto Yasay also reaffirmed the country’s commitment to peaceful resolution and reducing tensions, as he called on parties to exercise “restraint and sobriety.” RAM/rga
READ: Yasay urges sobriety, restraint over sea dispute in Asia-Europe meet
