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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider SolGen, not local or foreign lawyers, should file case vs China on destruction of coral reefs in WPS -- ex-Justice Jardeleza

SolGen, not local or foreign lawyers, should file case vs China on destruction of coral reefs in WPS -- ex-Justice Jardeleza

Published Sep 21, 2023 06:16 am

SolGen, not local or foreign lawyers, should file case vs China on destruction of coral reefs in WPS -- ex-Justice Jardeleza

The Philippines should no longer hire local or foreign lawyers to handle the filing of a case against China on the destruction of coral reefs in the West Philippine Sea (WPS), former solicitor general and retired Supreme Court (SC) Justice Francis H. Jardeleza said on Thursday, Sept. 21.

Jardeleza said the filing of the case should be handled by the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG), the government's chief lawyer.

“Nagmumungkahi ako na magfile ulit ng kaso (I propose that we should file a case). This time, ang maghawak ng kaso ay ang OSG (OSG should handle the case)" he stressed.

Jardeleza was the solicitor general when the Philippine filed in 2013 an arbitration case against China before the Permanent Court of Arbitration which issued the landmark 2016 ruling in favor of the Philippines' claims over the WPS.

He said that based on what he learned from then solicitor general Estelito P. Mendoza, who also served as justice minister, there "should be political accountability.”

“Kung abogado ka ikaw mananagot (If you’re the lawyer then you should be held liable). More important than the money is political accountability,” he pointed out.

Jardeleza lauded the initiative taken by Solicitor General Menardo I. Guevarra to study the legal options that the Philippines should take against China over the destruction of coral reefs.

“I’m so glad ang solicitor general natin ngayon, ang kagalang-galang na Menardo Guevarra, ay siya na rin nagsabi na pinag-aaralan nila ito (I’m so glad that Solicitor General Menardo Guevarra himself said he is now studying what actions to take),” he said.

At the moment, Jardeleza said it is not yet clear before which international court the Philippines should file a case.

While the filing of a case would cost millions of pesos, the Philippines has a strong case in view of the 2016 ruling of the Permanent Court of Arbitration.

“Ang kaigihan nito sinabi nila ang Tsina mismo, Tsina ang responsible sa pag-harm ng ating environment (The good thing about this is that it was declared that China caused harm to the environment of the Philippines),” he cited.

“Ang palagay ko ang gagawin ng solicitor general ay bigyan ng balor ang damage as of 2016 at tsaka may bagong ebidensya ng bagong damage (I believe the solicitor general will estimate the cost of the damage as of 2016 and we have evidence on the new damages),” he also said.

At the same time, Jardeleza expressed his opposition to proposals to raise the issue before the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).

Should the Philippines win before the UNGA, Jardeleza explained the country would only receive a moral victory that is not even enforceable.

“No one can enforce it. ‘Yun ang pangunahing rason na ayaw ko (That’s the primary reason why I oppose it),” he said as he pointed out that rulings issued by international tribunals are enforceable.

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