đź“· ptvnews.ph
FOLLOWING legal advice from a retired magistrate, the Philippine government is considering the idea of taking bold moves as the National Security Council (NSC) hinted at collating evidence for a case that would be filed against China.
According to NSC assistant director Jonathan Malaya, the case, which is currently being assessed by the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG), would zoom into Beijing’s illegal actions in the West Philippine Sea.
“We’re currently collecting all the necessary evidence and information because the filing of another case, in particular an environmental case, of course, will require evidence and necessary data and information,” Malaya said.
He however declined to say as to when the case would be filed as ““it is currently being assessed” by the DOJ.
“It will depend on the gravity of the evidence because we will not go to court if we will not win,” a seemingly confident Malaya was quoted as saying.
Previously, retired Associate Justice Antonio Carpio suggested to the government to construct a civilian lighthouse and a marine research center at the Ayungin so that the Philippines can file a complaint to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) if China shows aggression in connection with these structures.
During the NSC-organized briefing, the Philippine Coast Guard said that they already have in possession photos taken from 2018 to 2019 showing alleged Chinese fishermen illegally harvesting giant clams, sting rays, topshells and sea turtles at the West Philippine Sea.
The move, he added, is in accordance with the consensus of various agencies wanting the government to press another case against China over the destruction of coral reefs, including the harvesting of endangered giant clams.
“Given itong mga ebidensya na nakalap natin mula pa noong 2016 hanggang ngayon, siguro po panahon na para magsampa ng isang panibagong kaso ang ating bansa,” Malaya further noted.
The Philippines won over China in a case that was resolved in 2016 by the Permanent Court of Arbitration which ruled in favor of the Philippines’ claims over an area deemed well within the 200-nautical mile Philippine exclusive economic zone. The same ruling also invalidated China’s nine-dash line map. (ANGEL. F. JOSE)
