The Philippines is set to present its case
before the Arbitral Tribunal in The Hague, the Netherlands, to argue that the
tribunal has jurisdiction to hear the country’s case against China.
Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte, in a
news bulletin issued on Monday (July 6), said the first hearing will be held
from 2:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. (about 8:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m., Manila time) at the
Permanent Court of Arbitration at the Peace Palace.
Valte said Solicitor General Florin Hilbay, as
agent of the Philippines, will open the presentation.
Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario
will speak on the reason for the filing of the Philippines' case, while lawyers
from the Washington-based law firm Foley Hoag, led by Paul Reichler, will
present the arguments regarding jurisdiction, she said.
The Palace official also said “the entire
Philippine delegation will be present to witness the proceedings.”
The members from the executive, legislature and judiciary who form part of the Philippine delegation are House of Representatives Speaker Feliciano Belmonte, Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa, Jr., Supreme Court Associate Justices Antonio Carpio and Francis Jardeleza, Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Benjamin Caguioa, Sandiganbayan Justice Sarah Fernandez, Undersecretary Emmanuel Bautista, and Deputy Executive Secretary Menardo Guevara.
The Philippines filed the arbitration case against China in 2013, questioning the latter’s claims to most of the South China Sea (West Philippine Sea). China has refused to participate in the case but in a public position paper in December, it raised concerns about the tribunal’s jurisdiction over the matter.
According to news reports, the tribunal last April acknowledged China’s objections, setting a hearing on jurisdiction on July 7 to 13. (PCOO News Release)
The members from the executive, legislature and judiciary who form part of the Philippine delegation are House of Representatives Speaker Feliciano Belmonte, Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa, Jr., Supreme Court Associate Justices Antonio Carpio and Francis Jardeleza, Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Benjamin Caguioa, Sandiganbayan Justice Sarah Fernandez, Undersecretary Emmanuel Bautista, and Deputy Executive Secretary Menardo Guevara.
The Philippines filed the arbitration case against China in 2013, questioning the latter’s claims to most of the South China Sea (West Philippine Sea). China has refused to participate in the case but in a public position paper in December, it raised concerns about the tribunal’s jurisdiction over the matter.
According to news reports, the tribunal last April acknowledged China’s objections, setting a hearing on jurisdiction on July 7 to 13. (PCOO News Release)
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