PBBM REAFFIRMS COMMITMENT TO RULE OF LAW ON 10TH ANNIVERSARY OF SOUTH CHINA SEA ARBITRAL RULING

PASAY CITY (July12) — President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. reaffirmed the Philippines’ unwavering commitment to international law and a rules-based international order during the commemoration of the 10th anniversary of the 2016 South China Sea Arbitral Award on Friday.

Speaking before diplomats and government officials, President Marcos said the landmark ruling is more than a legal victory, describing it as a reaffirmation that disputes between nations should be resolved peacefully through international law rather than coercion or the use of force.

The President stressed that the 2016 Arbitral Award continues to protect the country’s sovereign rights, preserve peace in the South China Sea, and safeguard the livelihoods of Filipino fisherfolk and coastal communities.

He emphasized that the Philippines chose “dialogue over confrontation, law over intimidation, and peace over conflict” when it initiated arbitration proceedings in 2013, underscoring the country’s enduring faith in the rule of law.

President Marcos also reiterated the Philippines’ commitment to the United Nations Charter and the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), saying adherence to international law is “non-negotiable.”

He called on the international community to continue upholding international law and strengthening cooperation to ensure that the South China Sea remains “a sea of peace, cooperation, and connectivity” rather than a source of conflict.

The diplomatic reception at the Conrad Hotel in Pasay City was attended by Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro, Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian, lawmakers, Cabinet officials, members of the judiciary, the Diplomatic Corps, and international partners.