Carpio calls on the youth to continue defending the West Philippine Sea

 

Supreme Court Senior Justice Associate Justice Antonio Carpio on Wednesday appealed to the Filipino youth to continue defending the West Philippine Sea.

“We have to continue defending West Philippine Sea because that’s our duty. My generation laid the foundation by winning arbitral ruling that the West Philippine Sea belongs to the Philippines,” Carpio said after administering the oath of office to Kabataan Party-List Representative Sarah Jane Elago.

Carpio was referring to the July 2016 arbitral ruling declaring several areas in the South China Sea, including the Reed Bank, as part of the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the Philippines.

“The next generation including your generation must build on this foundation so that our exclusive economic zone in the West Philippine Sea will belong truly to the Filipinos and all the resources there – the fish, oil, gas and other resources will be enjoyed exclusively by Filipino citizens including Reed Bank because that’s part of our EEZ,” Carpio said.

Controversy shrouds the sinking of a Filipino fishing boat at Reed Bank, after the boat’s crew claimed that a Chinese ship rammed them. The Chinese vessel then left the Filipinos adrift in the sea after their boat sank.

Elago said the Filipino fishermen can count on the youth for support.

“Mahalaga pong malaman ng ating mga kababayang mangingisda na kakampi nila ang kabataan at marami silang kakampi para magdemand ng pananagutan sa nangyari sa Reed Bank,” Elago said.

https://news.mb.com.ph/2019/06/20/carpio-calls-on-the-youth-to-continue-defending-the-west-philippine-sea/