By Edu Punay
MANILA, Philippines - Two members of the government’s legal team in the arbitration case against China yesterday slammed the Duterte administration for apparently ignoring the award they won for the country.
Supreme Court Senior Justice Antonio Carpio and former solicitor general Florin Hilbay both criticized the policy taken by the administration on the issue following the country’s victory before the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA).
“I was aghast that the President used the term ‘setting aside’ (the PCA award),” Carpio said at a forum marking the first anniversary of the ruling.
Carpio said he was not satisfied with the soft stance taken by the Duterte administration to prevent China’s reclamation activities in the West Philippine (South China) Sea, particularly in Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal.
Carpio suggested the government should file another arbitral case against China’s action in the contested areas.
He believes China is using a strategy to control the South China Sea without using force and would only sign a Code of Conduct being pushed by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations after completing its naval base in the contested areas.
Read the full story at PhilStar