Presidential spokesperson and Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo.
INQUIRER FILE PHOTO / JOAN BONDOC
MANILA, Philippines 鈥� Even if President Rodrigo Duterte already said he 鈥渨ill ignore鈥� the 2016 arbitral ruling on the West Philippine Sea in exchange for the country鈥檚 gas deal with China, his spokesman insisted Friday that he will never abandon the landmark decision.
Salvador Panelo, who serves as Duterte鈥檚 mouthpiece and chief legal counsel, said: 鈥淭he President has not abandoned, nor is he abandoning, and neither will he ever abandon the favorable arbitral award issued by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, more so with respect to our rights in the West Philippine Sea.鈥�
He made the statement after聽Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio聽said that Duterte had no authority to abandon the verdict of the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) in The Hague, Netherlands, which favored Manila鈥檚 case against Beijing鈥檚 nine-dash line that covers almost the entire South China Sea including the West Philippine Sea.
In a press briefing in Malaca帽ang on Tuesday, Duterte said he 鈥渨ill ignore鈥� the PCA decision in favor of a joint oil and gas exploration with China within the Philippines鈥� exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
鈥淭he exclusive economic zone is part of the arbitral ruling, which we will ignore to come up with an economic activity,鈥� Duterte said.
Panelo, nevertheless, saw a different view on the President鈥檚 remarks. He said that what Duterte meant could be that the Philippines 鈥� for the meantime 鈥� will divert its focus 鈥渢o something that would benefit our country in the midst of the impasse with China on our territorial dispute.鈥�
鈥淭hat is not to say, however, that we will totally forget about the said ruling and waive our sovereign rights as laid out therein,鈥� he added.
搁贰础顿:听
搁贰础顿:听
Panelo even said that Duterte believes that the arbitral ruling is 鈥渇inal, binding and unappealable.鈥�
鈥淚t is there forever and ever, as in forever. Not only is it carved in stone but it is as permanent as the sun rising on the east,鈥� he said.
The Palace official then chided Carpio, saying the high court magistrate appears to 鈥渞elish in finding fault in what the President says even if there is none.鈥�
Panelo also pointed out Carpio鈥檚 declaration that he has no objections if the Philippines pursue a joint exploration with China, 鈥渟tating that 鈥榯he proposal of 60-40 in our favor would be a good start鈥� and admitting that, 鈥榙espite everything, (Duterte) might be the President who will find the solution to the South China Sea dispute鈥�.鈥�