The 2016 arbitral ruling that upheld the Philippines’ claims in the West Philippine Sea provided for traditional fishing rights for several countries in the Panatag Shoal, or Scarborough Shoal, but only Filipinos may fish in its exclusive economic zone. Former Foreign Secretary Albert Del Rosario and former Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales made the remark in […]

  Riding on an 85 percent approval rating, President Duterte probably thought he could convince Filipinos about the wisdom of his much-criticized policy towards China in the matter of the country’s territorial claim in the South China Sea. He devoted a lot of time on the issue of West Philippine Sea in his State of […]

  MANILA, Philippines — China cannot demand traditional fishing rights in the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ), Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio said on Tuesday in an interview on ABS-CBN News Channel. “The Chinese cannot demand to fish in our EEZ based on traditional fishing rights because that has been done away with,” Carpio said. […]

MANILA, Philippines — Despite the Chinese seizure of Panatag Shoal in 2012 after a standoff with the Philippine Navy, former president Benigno Aquino III said his administration was never remiss in its duty to protect the country’s territory, citing Manila’s victory against Beijing before an international arbitral court. In an interview with Eagle News Service, […]

  MANILA, Philippines — Experts have warned that the South China Sea — one of the world’s vital marine ecosystems — is on the edge of a fisheries collapse as it faces serious threats of overfishing. However, Malacañang on Tuesday ignored this caution, arguing that the resource-rich waters will never run out of fish. “Aren’t […]

The Palace said Wednesday that Vietnam and Malaysia’s stance against China over a territorial dispute in the South China Sea endangers the lives of their people. Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said the two countries risk “armed hostility” through their aggressive posture against Asia’s economic giant. Vietnamese and Chinese forces have an ongoing standoff within Vietnam’s […]

  MANILA, Philippines — Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio is calling on the Senate to review the agreement forged by President Duterte with Chinese President Xi Jinping that allows Chinese fishermen to trawl inside the country’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ). Carpio said the so-called “fishing deal,” as confirmed by the President in his 4th State […]

  MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte should stop “toying around” with the country’s national security by “ridiculously invoking” the Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) opposition Senator Leila de Lima said Wednesday. During a television interview last week, the President said he is invoking the country’s defense agreement with the United States amid the maritime row […]

MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte “broke” his promise that he would not bargain the Philippines’ maritime territory during his visit to China in 2016, two former senior government officials have said, adding that “[w]e must stop giving China primacy over that of our own people.” “To paraphrase President Duterte’s October 16, 2016 departure speech, […]

  MANILA – Senator Risa Hontiveros on Wednesday said she would initiate moves in the Senate to either ratify or repudiate the supposed verbal fishing agreement between President Rodrigo Duterte and China’s president Xi Jingping. Hontiveros described as “rock solid,” Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio’s call for the Senate to look into the […]