ICC complaint vs Xi could boost UN arbitral ruling for Philippines — Lacson

Sen. Panfilo Lacson. (File photo by RICHARD A. REYES / Philippine Daily Inquirer)

MANILA,Philippines — Senator Panfilo Lacson said the complaint filed against Chinese President Xi Jinping before the International Criminal Court (ICC) could boost the 2016 arbitral court ruling, which favored the Philippines’ claims in South China Sea.

“Unang una, patriotic move yung ginawa nung dalawa at duty natin bilang mga Filipino na suportahan kasi patriotic move yun at kung sakaling magtagumpay sila, malaking boost yun sa arbitral ruling na panig sa atin,” Lacson told local radio station DWIZ on Saturday.

It was former Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario and former Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales who filed the complaint on behalf of the Filipinos and Filipino fishermen “persecuted and injured’’ by China’s aggressive island-building and occupation of islands in the West Philippine Sea.

READ: Ex-DFA chief Del Rosario, Morales sue China’s Xi at ICC

With this, Lacson said the complaint could add “pressure” to the international community and would enforce the Philippines’ claims in the South China Sea.

“Kasi yung abritral ruling, kung mabigyan ng due court yung ICC na inihaing complaint eh maski pa-paano advantage sa atin yun magkakaroon ng pressure ang international community sa pamamagitan ng ICC na baka ma-enforce yung ating pag-angkin sa ating disputed waters at islands,” Lacson said.

In 2016, the United Nations (UN) Arbitral Tribunal said China had no legal basis 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

ICC, no jurisdiction over China?

When asked if ICC has no jurisdiction over China, Lacson said it is up to the international court’s decision as there are provisions even if the country is not a member of the ICC.

“Bahala na ang ICC mag-decide diyan dahil may provision diyan kung miyembro o di miyembro dahil base sa nabasa ko hindi naman absolute yon kung ‘di ka miyembro eh completely walang jurisdiction yung ICC,” he said.

This was contrary to Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo’s statement claiming the high-ranking officials’ complaint could be a futile exercise because the international court has no jurisdiction over China.

READ: Palace on ICC complaint vs Xi: It may be a futile exercise

“The filing of the complaint may be a futile exercise. The ICC has no jurisdiction over China,” Panelo said in a statement.

China is not a member of the international court while Philippines recently withdrew its membership from ICC. /jpv