The Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) on Friday, May 7, expressed belief that holding a dialogue, instead of a debate, would be the best way to address the issues and concerns involving the West Philippine Sea (WPS).
IBP President Domingo Egon Q. Cayosa pointed this out after retired Supreme Court (SC) Senior Associate Justice Antonio T. Carpio accepted the challenge of President Duterte for a debate over the WPS.
“It is good if our leaders and personalities agree to debate on the West Philippine Sea,” Cayosa said.
“It may however be helpful if those in authority and in the know, well-meaning as they all are, agree to dialogue, discuss, share information, data and ideas in a constructive manner so that they may understand and appreciate their different perspectives and consider better options to protect and promote our national interest in the WPS in a unified way,” he explained.
He said that while a public debate “may promote transparency and are quite interesting and entertaining, it may not be the most prudent way of moving forward with our legal victories in the WPS.”
In July 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration issued an award that recognized the Philippines’ territorial rights over the WPS against the claims made by China.
“There are many details nuances of diplomacy, international relations and geopolitics than what we publicly know. These are best discussed by responsible officials and leaders away from the limelight of media,” Cayosa said.
“As a workable path moving forward is forged, the whole nation should rally behind such agreed plan,” he added.
He pointed out that it would help “to initially keep the talks away from the limelight to minimize grandstanding and politicking.”
“Confidential facts, data, and circumstances may be revealed to help the well-meaning participants understand each other and consider better options,” he stressed.
Last Thursday, the Philippine Bar Association (PBA) has offered to host the debate between the President and Carpio.
“Now that the President's earlier challenge to a debate on the West Philippine Sea has been accepted by former Senior Supreme Court Justice Antonio Carpio, the Filipino public will benefit immensely from a frank and straight-forward discussion on a matter that affects the entire citizenry,” PBA President Rico V. Domingo said.
“The Philippine Bar Association (PBA) offers to host this discussion on such date and time as the President and Justice Carpio may agree,” he said.
The PBA is a private organization of lawyers in the country. It is the IBP that is recognized as the official lawyers’ association by the Supreme Court (SC) which has the power to regulate legal practice and discipline lawyers.