Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — Malacañang is going to tap the expertise of authorities on international law, including a Supreme Court Justice, in planning its next move after the Philippines won its landmark maritime case against China.
Read: What you need to know about the Arbitral Tribunal’s ruling
The five-member Arbitral Tribunal in The Hague unanimously ruled on Tuesday to scrap China’s “nine-dash line” maritime claim, saying it was excessive and violated the Philippines’ 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone. The Tribunal also said China’s land reclamations caused “severe harm” to the marine environment in the South China Sea.
“We welcome the ruling. However, we proceed with caution, and restraint, and sobriety,” Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abello said Wednesday.
“We are awaiting for the right responses coming from the government so I’m sure that everything will be for the common good, especially for those who are directly involved, including the fishermen,” Abella said. “But let us wait for the right response at the right time.”
In a statement, Foreign Affairs Secretary Perfecto Yasay welcomed the ruling and said the government will thoroughly study the decision.
“The Philippines strongly affirms its respect for this milestone decision as an important contribution to ongoing efforts in addressing disputes in the South China Sea,” Yasay said.
Abella said Malacañang is in talks with some members of the Supreme Court, including Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio, who was invited to attend a Cabinet meeting Tuesday after the Tribunal announced its ruling. Supreme Court Associate Justice Francis Jardeleza and former Solicitor General Florin Hilbay also attended the meeting.
Carpio and Jardeleza were at the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague last year, when the Philippine delegation presented its arguments before the Tribunal.
Carpio has been a strong champion of the Philippine position, speaking publicly here and abroad in numerous forums to present the legal challenge to China’s nine-dash line. He is an uncle of Mans Carpio, the husband of Duterte’s daughter, Sara, now the mayor of Davao City where he was born.
Jardeleza was the country’s Solicitor General when the Philippines filed the case in January 2013. He was appointed to the Supreme Court in August 2014.
Shortly after the Tribunal’s decision was released, Jardeleza told reporters, “In the final analysis, the disputes in the South China Sea should be resolved diplomatically.”
“With this legal advantage, the chief diplomat and architect of our foreign policy, President Rodrigo R. Duterte, could now proceed at his disposal to get this job done,” he said.
Abella said Carpio attended the Cabinet meeting called by Duterte several hours after the Tribunal’s decision was released.
Abella said the Cabinet discussed how the country should respond to the decision. The mood during the meeting was “upbeat,” he said.
Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar earlier said Duterte will be debriefed on the ruling Wednesday by Solicitor General Jose Calida, who will also provide the President a “thorough interpretation” of the case in five days.
