Statement of Senator Legarda on the Ruling of the Permanent Court of Arbitration on the West Philippine Sea Case

The International Tribunal of the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea has spoken. As state parties to the UNCLOS and responsible members of the international community, we are duty-bound to respect its decision.

I welcome the impartial, authoritative decisions rendered by the Tribunal and can only hope that these will serve as guideposts for the parties in this dispute.

It serves no valid purpose to further exacerbate the dispute by refusing to heed the decision handed down by Tribunal, for in the end, such refusal to honor its decision will only undermine the primary objective of the UNCLOS – and that is to establish a legal order for the seas to promote its peaceful use.