Press Statement of Roilo Golez on the Favorable Ruling of the Permanent Court of Arbitration

Press Statement of Roilo Golez on the Favorable Ruling of the Permanent Court of Arbitration

The decision of the Permanent Court of Arbitration that the Philippine case vs. the PROC was "properly constituted" under UNCLOS and that the Court has jurisdiction is a great victory for the Rule of Law. It dismissed the PROC's non-appearance stating that this does not preclude the Court from acquiring jurisdiction.

It also appears that the Court will rely significantly on UNCLOS. China's oppressive nine-dash line has no basis under UNCLOS.

In other words, China's bully tactics and behavior that it is above the law did not work in an internationally constituted forum where China cannot use its armada, missiles and water cannons.

In the same way it could not continue its bully tactics in the face of a bigger navy when the USS Lassen patrolled within 12 nautical miles of its illegally built artificial islands in the South China Sea.

We should congratulate the Philippine Government, Malacañang, the DFA and the OSG and the private counsels that crafted the memorial filed with the Court last year amidst the protests and threats and carrots of China.

Of course this is still very far from the final victory. Let us all pray as one nation, regardless of party or ideology.

And let us not mind the threat of China that they would simply ignore a Court decision adverse to them. Should we win, and China ignores, they would be portrayed as international outlaws and I doubt whether they would be able to withstand and resist international censure.

Meantime:

We in MARCHA or the Movement & Alliance to Resist China's Aggression bow in thanksgiving to the Lord for granting our prayer made during the August 31 Global Day of Prayer for Peace and Victory in the West Philippine Sea where we asked for the Lord's support in the first round of the deliberation of the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague on the question of jurisdiction. The Arbitral Tribunal just released their ruling that indeed they have jurisdiction to review and decide on the case we filed against China. Now let's continue praying for FINAL VICTORY IN THE WEST PHILIPPINE SEA! In that prayer rally, we prayed for divine support in the first round of the Court proceedings and our prayers helped.