By Darryl John Esguerra
MANILA – Malacañang on Monday said President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has restored the Philippines’ campaign to uphold the landmark 2016 South China Sea arbitral ruling after years of neglect, saying the administration has consistently asserted the country’s maritime rights through diplomacy anchored on international law.
Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said the arbitral award, secured by the Philippines in 2016 under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), had not been fully utilized by the previous administration despite its significance.
“So, totoo naman na ipinaglaban ito sa panahon ni PNoy [late former president Benigno Aquino III]. Pero sa panahon ni dating Pangulong Duterte, ang arbitral award o ruling ay kinunsidera lamang na simpleng papel na puwedeng itapon sa basurahan (It is true that the case was fought during the Aquino administration. But during the Duterte administration, the arbitral award or ruling was treated merely as a piece of paper that could be thrown into the trash),” Castro said in a Palace briefing.
Castro said the Marcos administration has since taken a different course by actively asserting the country’s rights while avoiding military confrontation.
“Hindi po kasi ganiyan ang polisiya ng ating Pangulo; ipaglaban ang ating karapatan sa diplomatikong pamamaraan (That is not the President’s policy. His policy is to defend our rights through diplomatic means),” she said.
She cited the government’s response in September 2023 when Marcos ordered the removal of a floating barrier installed by the China Coast Guard near Bajo de Masinloc to allow Filipino fishermen access to their traditional fishing grounds.
Castro also recalled that the administration of former president Rodrigo Duterte, which has been widely criticized for kowtowing to China’s intimidation in the West Philippine Sea dispute, stopped the construction of a shelter for Filipino fishermen at Sandy Cay and even allowed Chinese vessels to patrol the area.
She said the Marcos administration remains committed to protecting the country’s sovereign rights in the West Philippine Sea while pursuing peaceful and rules-based solutions.
“Hindi po natin gustong maging duwag ang bawat Pilipino para ipaglaban ang karapatan natin, pero hindi po tayo nagsasabi na dapat tayong sumulong sa isang giyera. Ang gusto ng Pangulo lagi, diplomatikong pamamaraan (We do not want Filipinos to be afraid to fight for our rights, but neither are we saying that we should go to war. The President has always wanted to pursue diplomatic means),” she said.
The Palace statement came a day after the Philippines marked the 10th anniversary of the landmark July 12, 2016 arbitral award, which invalidated China’s ambitious “nine-dash line” claim over most of the South China Sea.
In his remarks during a diplomatic reception last Friday, Marcos urged Filipinos to continue upholding the arbitral ruling, saying it directly affects the livelihood of Filipino fishermen and underscores the country’s commitment to a rules-based international order.
The Philippines has since gained broader international backing for the ruling, with several countries reaffirming on Sunday that the decision remains final and legally binding under UNCLOS. (PNA)
