PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Palawan — Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque reasserted here Wednesday morning that President Rodrigo Duterte considers the West Philippines Sea (WPS) and all the islands being claimed in the region as part of Palawan and the Philippines.
“With the exception, of course, of Scarborough (Shoal), which forms part of the province of Zambales, the President has said that he will not surrender an inch, even a single inch of Philippine territory to any foreigner,” he said during a media conference held at the Provincial Capitol.
Roque said the basis of the Philippine claim is very clear, it is by virtue of both the discovery of “res nullius (nobody’s thing or ownerless property) territory and effective occupation.”
He added Duterte’s position is that the ruling of the United Nations Tribunal on the Law of the Sea (UNTLS) has finally decided that first, China cannot claim any of the waters of the WPS on the basis of historic title or on Nine-Dash Lines.
Second, that Scarborough and the area where China has built artificial islands “are part and parcel of the Philippine exclusive economic zone (EEZ).”
“The President is of the opinion that this is an authoritative evidence of the customary norm of international law applicable and is, certainly, an authority that China cannot make claims on the basis of historic waters,” Roque said on the reaffirmation of the country’s claim to the WPS.
He said the reality until today is that the government has unresolved controversy as far as land territory is concerned, and this is because the UNTLS could only decide on issues involving the sea.
“So, the issue of the land territory remains ‘disputed’ that is why we still have to refer to it as ‘disputed’ islands of the WPS because that was not the subject of any ruling on the part of the UNTLS,” he said.
Conflicting claims to land territories “have to be resolved through negotiations and diplomatic relations, and these are why, for the time being, President Duterte is pursuing friendly relations with China in contrast to the antagonistic position taken by his predecessors.”
“The President, I reiterate, will not surrender the Philippine territory, but the policy is, on matters which are not controversial, such as trade and investments, we will proceed full speed ahead,” he said.
In matters, which are controverted, including land territory, and still disputed maritime territories under the definition in international law where there are remaining disagreements on facts and law, the country will proceed on the basis of bilateral relations with China.
“We appeal to the critics, we have to be united on this issue. Please do not claim to have a monopoly of holding the national interest, President Duterte has been consistent that he will die for the Philippine territory. But, meanwhile, he will not sacrifice even a single life for an issue that can be resolved by friendly relations,” Roque stated.
The restatement of the position of the Philippines, he specified, is necessary based on the fact that the entire WPS is attended and made a part of the province of Palawan.
“We will uphold, not only the claims of the province of Palawan, but the entire Philippine nation because the bulk of what we claim as ours has been attended to this province,” he said.
Roque arrived in Palawan on Tuesday to speak to a group of dentists and medical practitioners.
He also had a closed-door meeting with local officials and spoke at forums to students of the West Philippines University and Palawan State University. (PNA)
