US neutrality in shoal row a relief – lawmaker

MANILA, Philippines – If some lawmakers are lamenting the United States’ decision not to intervene in the Philippines’ ongoing standoff with China, count out Bayan Muna Representative Neri Colmenares from that bloc.

He maintained on Wednesday that it was a relief that the US decided to keep off the Panatag (Scarborough) shoal dispute, arguing that it would spare the country from being caught  in the middle of a possible shooting war between the US and China if Washington intervened.

Colmenares however urged the government anew to take the matter to the International Court of Justice and International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea instead since the courts had the authority to look into the dispute.

The US has recently declared neutrality in the shoal dispute, offering the Philippines help in improving the capability of its navy instead.

House deputy majority leader Roman Romulo has earlier urged the government to improve the Philippine Navy’s capabilities in order to assert the country’s sovereignty.