Constitutional duty of the State to protect our EEZ (West Philippine Sea)

Constitutional duty of the State to protect our EEZ (West Philippine Sea) 

Article XII, Section 2 of the Constitution provides: 

 

“The State shall protect the nation’s marine wealth in its archipelagic waters, territorial sea, and exclusive economic zone, and reserve its use and enjoyment exclusively to Filipino citizens.”

The ruling of the Arbitral Tribunal, which is now part of International Law, stresses that our Exclusive Economic Zone (West Philippine Sea) includes Mischief Reef, Reed (Recto) Bank, Ayungin Shoal and the waters around Scarborough Shoal. It is the duty of the State to protect our EEZ from the Chinese Coast Guard ships and other Chinese elements that have been intruding into and violating our EEZ and preventing Filipino citizens from exploiting our natural resources therein. This is the duty of all government officials, from the highest to the lowest, to uphold. They have no choice but to uphold this constitutional mandate. This is not optional but mandatory.