CEBU CITY – A Boholano lawyer will be among the select Filipinos attending the inauguration of United States President-elect Donald Trump on Jan. 20 (Jan. 21 in the Philippines).

TRUMP (AP)

Tagbilaran City native Jordan Pizarras will be attending the momentous event as one of the legal counsels of American businessman Timothy Strong.

The invitation underscores the US’ commitment to strengthening ties with the Philippines, particularly on shared concerns over China's maritime claims in the West Philippine Sea.

Pizarras is running for representative of the first district of Bohol in the upcoming elections.

The invitation to Pizarras, which serves as a reminder of the enduring importance of diplomacy and international cooperation in addressing complex territorial disputes and advancing mutual economic interests,  was extended by US House Majority Whip Tom Emmer, a prominent Republican leader and supporter of strengthened US-Philippine relations.

Emmer’s endorsement of Pizarras’ presence at the historic inauguration signals Washington’s commitment to upholding the 2016 ruling of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) Arbitral Tribunal, which declared China’s nine-dash line claims in the West Philippine Sea as lacking any legal basis.

The tribunal further affirmed the Philippines' sovereign rights over the Reed Bank and ruled that China’s operations in the area were unlawful. However, China's continued activities in the region remain a point of contention.

Pizarras’ attendance at Trump’s inauguration highlights a critical intersection of diplomatic and economic interests. Legal experts and analysts view this as a strategic move to reinforce international support for the Philippines in asserting its territorial and economic rights in the contested waters.

“This is more than a symbolic gesture,” noted a political analyst. “It signifies a potential shift in the geopolitical balance and the strengthening of the US-Philippine alliance in countering China’s maritime ambitions.”

Strong, a significant shareholder of PXP Energy Corp., is at the helm of efforts to develop Service Contract 72 (SC 72), located in the Reed Bank/Recto Bank basin, west of Palawan Island.

PXP Energy, a London-listed company, secured the rights to explore the energy-rich SC 72 concession, which lies within the Philippines’ Exclusive Economic Zone as defined under the

The Reed Bank basin is estimated to contain approximately 3.9 trillion cubic feet of natural gas, including the Sampaguita gas field, which alone holds around 2.6 trillion cubic feet of gas.

Experts estimate the field’s reserves could last for over 100 years, with an estimated value exceeding $500 trillion. Such resources could significantly bolster the Philippines’ energy security and provide a vital boost to its economy.

The development of SC 72 has been hindered by a moratorium on exploration imposed in December 2014 due to a force majeure caused by heightened tensions with China.

This moratorium remains in effect until the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) authorizes its lifting, but recent recommendations by the Department of Energy (DOE) signal progress toward resuming exploration activities.