Permanent Court of Arbitration eyes possible partnership with SC

MANILA, Philippines — The Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) is eyeing a possible collaboration with the Supreme Court of the Philippines to conduct PCA proceedings in the country.

In a visit to Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo on Friday, PCA Secretary General Dr. Marcin Czepelak said that the collaboration can be done through a Hose Country Agreement.

Through this agreement, the Court said in a statement that “PCA can hold hearings in facilities provided by the Philippine Supreme Court, a suggestion that the Chief Magistrate said the Court could look into.”

The Palace said on Thursday that Czepelak raised the possibility of establishing a Host Country Agreement with the country when he paid a courtesy visit to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in Malacañang.

READ: Host country agreement eyed between PH, Permanent Court of Arbitration

Further, Philippine Ambassador to The Netherlands Eduardo Malaya shared that the PCA signed an agreement on Wednesday with the Philippine Dispute Resolution Center, Inc. for the use of its facilities.

“This means that the PCA can conduct hearings in accordance with PCA rules using facilities at PDRCI and that PDCRI-administered cases can also be conducted or held in PCA offices in The Hague, Singapore, and Vietnam in accordance with PDRCI rules,” the Court noted.

The Chief Justice also said that the Court is committed to supporting activities that strengthen international law “to ensure that the rule of law prevails in the whole world.” Moreover, Gesmundo told Czepelak that the Court is willing to help PCA and The Hague Conference on International Private Law in their activities.

READ: Marcos says Permanent Court of Arbitration vital to PH foreign policy

Hague-based PCA, the oldest existing international dispute settlement body in the world, ruled in 2016 that the country has exclusive rights over the West Philippine Sea.