By Leslie D. Venzon
President Rodrigo R. Duterte welcomes the US Congressional delegation accompanied by US Ambassador to the Philippines Philip Goldberg at the President’s Hall in Malacañan Palace on July 19. (MNS photo)
MANILA, July 20 (PNA) – Malacañang on Wednesday said the government will continue to pursue the diplomatic path to achieve the country’s exclusive rights over the West Philippine Sea (WPS) granted by Netherlands-based arbitral tribunal.
Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella considered the Philippine sovereign economic rights granted by the Law of Nations to be “non-negotiable”.
“The Philippines continues along a diplomatic path to fully realize the EEZ (exclusive economic zone) rights granted by the Arbitration Court -engaging in bilateral talks to find mutually acceptable arrangements to RP, PROC; and consulting with our regional allies,” he said in a statement.
President Rodrigo R. Duterte welcomes US Ambassador Philip Goldberg and Deputy Political Counselor Matthew Cenzer at the Music room in Malacañan Palace on July 19. Also in the photo are Foreign Affairs Secretary Perfecto Yasay, National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon and Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez.(MNS photo)
Abella added engagement with China towards the peaceful resolution of the issue must be compliant with the Constitution, International Law and the rule of law.
Last week, the international arbitral tribunal released a historic decision that the disputed WPS belongs to the Philippines. This, after more than three years since the Philippines filed an arbitration case against China.