Saturday, March 10, 2018
Palace clarifies concerns on conceding disputed seas
By
Jerome Calayag
“He will not
surrender a single inch of Philippine territory to foreigners.”
Presidential
spokesperson Harry Roque said on March 7 that President Rodrigo Roa Duterte
will not allow neighbor countries to claim any of the Philippines’ seas and territories.
“The
President considers the West Philippine Sea and all the islands that we are
currently occupying and lay claim to as part of the province of Palawan, with
the exception, of course, of Scarborough which forms part of the Province of
Zambales,” Roque stated.
Roque
also revealed before this explanation that there is a constant talk between China
and the Philippines to make the joint exploration in Service Contracts (SCs) 57
and 72 possible.
This
issue got the attention by the criticizers of the Duterte administration as the
president said that he accepted the China as their co-explorer of the islands.
“We
appeal to the critics, we have to be united on this issue, Please do not claim
to have the monopoly of upholding the national interest, he added.
He
also explained that the claims of the country was very strong as it was
recognized by the International Arbitral Tribunal last 2016.
“The
President’s position is that the ruling of the UN (United Nations) Tribunal for
the Law of the Sea has finally decided that China cannot claim to any waters of
the West Philippine Sea.”
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