Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonio Carpio reminded President Rodrigo Duterte to avoid any statement or declaration that expressly or impliedly waives Philippine sovereignty to any Philippine territory in the West Philippine Sea. “This will preserve for future generations of Filipinos their natural patrimony in the West Philippine Sea,” Carpio said. ADVERTISEMENTIn 2012, China seized Panatag Shoal or the Scarborough Shoal after a tense standoff between Chinese and Filipino vessels. China also began building artificial islands in the West Philippine Sea, which is reportedly already being militarized by Beijing. The US has conducted patrols and freedom of navigation exercises in the West Philippine Sea but has not stopped China from reportedly arming its artificial islands.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer March 20, 2017 04:51 UTC