Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio (Photo by TETCH TORRES-TUPAS / INQUIRER.net)
MANILA, Philippines — Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio prefers to ignore President Rodrigo Duterte’s rants and name-calling directed at him in connection with the West Philippine Sea.
Carpio has been championing the country’s resolve to take sole control of the West Philippine Sea. The magistrate played a great part in the country’s victory in the Permanent Court of Arbitration that invalidated China’s massive claim in the South China Sea.
The landmark decision rejected China’s argument that it had sovereign and historic rights over the disputed sea region located within its so-called nine-dashed line.
In a recent speech, the President called Carpio “buang” — that is, crazy — after the magistrate said that allowing China to fish in the country’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) was against the Constitution.
“Napaka-istupido mo. That is why hanggang diyan ka lang talaga,” the President said.
[You’re really stupid. That is why that’s just how far you will go.]
Sought for his reaction, Carpio said it was “not worth a comment.”
Carpio has been the subject of the President’s rants several times.
The first time the President cursed at Carpio, the magistrate said: “Being called names is just too minor.”
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