“We have stood firm where the law stands—and that is exactly where we must remain”
IN AN era where information travels faster than truth, we find ourselves at a critical crossroads. This is a moment that calls not for confusion, but for absolute clarity.
As Chairman Emeritus of several patriotic organizations, I have watched with growing concern as narratives regarding the West Philippine Sea gain traction online—narratives that seem designed to misrepresent the law and weaken our national resolve.
We must be vigilant against assertions, such as those circulating on social media by figures like Sass Rogando Sasot, that cast doubt on our country’s lawful exercise of sovereignty.
When baseless doubt is normalized, prudence gives way to surrender. I refuse to let that happen.
The Law Is Firm, Not Uncertain
The legal framework governing the West Philippine Sea is settled.
Let us be precise: the West Philippine Sea is our geographic designation; the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) is our legal maritime zone under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
The Philippines has never confused these two, and our position does not depend on doing so. Complexity should never be used as a smokescreen to obscure what is already clear. As Filipinos, you deserve clarity, not manufactured doubt.
Furthermore, international treaties do not—and cannot—erase Philippine laws by mere implication.
No act of Congress has repealed Presidential Decree No. 1596, and no Supreme Court decision has invalidated it. To claim otherwise is a fundamental misunderstanding of how our legal system operates.
Upholding Our Rights at Sea
Our position on Ayungin Shoal has always been lawful and consistent. We defend it not as land territory, but as an integral part of our EEZ.
Under international law, the EEZ grants us the sovereign rights to enforce laws, protect resources, and maintain a presence—rights resoundingly affirmed by the 2016 Arbitral Ruling.
“You do not need to own land to defend what is lawfully yours at sea. That is precisely why UNCLOS exists.”
The continued presence of the BRP Sierra Madre is not a provocation; it is a justified exercise of our rights.
Those who suggest otherwise are dangerously confusing territorial sovereignty with maritime rights, risking the integrity of our public discourse.
Discipline Is Not Retreat
There are those who suggest that the Philippines weakened its position by choosing arbitration. I disagree. We exercised the highest form of national discipline by pursuing a legal path where the law was strongest and where international courts held jurisdiction.
We chose principle over posturing. By doing so, the law responded by rejecting expansive claims that had no legal foundation.
This was not hesitation; it was sound statecraft anchored in our long-term national interest.
Why We Must Remain Vigilant
Public debate is the lifeblood of our democracy. However, when doubt is repeated often enough, it begins to masquerade as truth.
A nation that begins to doubt its own rights essentially does the work of its challengers for them.
Let me be clear on the legalities:
PD 1596 remains in effect. It has not been repealed by Congress or the Courts.
UNCLOS governs entitlements. It does not extinguish domestic laws.
The 2016 Ruling is Final. It settled that Ayungin Shoal lies within our EEZ.
A Call to Stand Firm
This is my call for vigilance. We must weigh online claims carefully, especially pro-China narratives that seek to undermine our confidence.
The Philippines has not surrendered.
We have not retreated.
We have stood firm where the law stands—and that is exactly where we must remain.
(The writer, who has Juris Doctor, PhD, MNSA, MPA and MBA degrees, is Chairman Emeritus of Alyansa ng Bantay sa Kapayapaan at Demokrasya, People’s Alliance for Democracy and Reforms, Liga Independencia Pilipinas, and the Filipinos Do Not Yield Movement.)
