De Lima: PH eyes provisional measures to stop China reclamation

Department of Justice Secretary Leila de Lima (Chari Villegas / Senate Pool)

MANILA — Justice Secretary Leila de Lima yesterday said that the country might seek provisional relief to stop China from its reclamation activities in the disputed islands in the West Philippine Sea.

This, De Lima said will be the next step if the arbitration tribunal decide that it has jurisdiction over the case.

“That is being considered by our legal team. If we get a favorable ruling on the issue of jurisdiction, perhaps that’s the next thing we will do. But it is still being carefully studied now,” she said in an interview.

She added that the idea is following the suggestion of Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonio Carpio to seek provisional relief before the International Tribunal on the Law of the Sea (ITLOS).

In the mean time, De Lima said that they are still awaiting the tribunal’s ruling on the jurisdictional issue.

“We are still in jurisdictional issue and this is basic and fundamental.

We must first hurdle this jurisdictional issue,” De Lima said.

“What is needed is a good legal strategy, which is as important as the merits of our position,” she added.