PH delegation hopes to ‘survive jurisdictional phase’

Photo from Abigail Valte’s Twitter Account.

MANILA — The Philippine delegation is hoping to return to the United Nations arbitral tribunal and continue the case against China’s claims in the disputed West Philippine Sea.

The country aims to nullify China’s “nine-dash line” claim which includes the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone.

In an interview with reporters on Tuesday, Solicitor General Florin Hilbay said the Philippines “presented the best forms of the argument” and is now hoping to “survive the jurisdictional phase” and return to The Hague.

“We are confident that we presented the best forms of the argument. How the arbitrators, how the members of the arbitral tribunal received them, we don’t know,” Hilbay said.

“But we believe, based on our understanding of the case, that we have presented, and the answers we have given are the best forms of argument possible,” he added.

During the first round of arguments, the country’s delegates presented justification for the tribunal’s jurisdiction over the its claims under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

Department of Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario also explained the case’s importance “not only to the region but to the entire world, and its impact on the application of the rule of law in maritime disputes.”

Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte earlier said that the United Nations Arbitral Tribunal will deliberate on the presentations made by the Philippines.