Senate resolution filed to honor Aquino, key players in PH tribunal win

The Philippine delegation to the United Nations Arbitral Tribunal in The Hague. File Photo from the Department of Foreign Affairs

A resolution, commending former President Benigno Aquino III and other patriotic Filipinos for winning the recent South China Sea arbitration case against China, has been filed at the Senate.

Senate Resolution No. 16 filed by incoming Senate President Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel on Friday also commend former Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert Del Rosario, Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio, Supreme Court Associate Justice Francis H. Jardeleza and then Solicitor General Florin Hilbay for their major role in helping out win the case.

The Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, The Netherlands voided through a unanimous vote on July 12, 2016 China’s “nine-dash line” claim in the South China Sea, saying it has no basis in international law.

Pimentel said the landmark decision would not have been possible “without the vision, foresight, diligence and courage of then President Aquino who made the critical decision to file the case and other patriotic Filipinos.”

“It is just fitting and right that the Philippine Senate should recognize the heroic efforts made by those involved in achieving the historic legal victory over areas in the West Philippine Sea,” he said.

READ: Aquino on arbitral court ruling: ‘A victory for all’

The senator said the victory underscores not only the importance of arbitration as a peaceful, open and friendly mechanism to resolve international disputes but also the Philippines’ commitment to be a responsible and law-abiding member of the international community.

The favourable ruling in the arbitration case, he said, will also greatly benefit the entire Filipino nation, specifically the fisher folk, as well as future generations of Filipinos.

Pimentel noted how the maritime dispute between the two countries has brought tension in the area because Filipino fishermen have been prevented by China from fishing in their traditional fishing grounds.

“It also deprived the Philippines of almost eighty percent of its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) extending into that area which serves as a major international trading route and believed to contain rich deposits of oil and natural gas,” he further said. CDG

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