San Beda Alumni on Sunday urged President Rodrigo Duterte to retract his remarks on West Philippine Sea and take a clear stand against China’s incursions in our country’s exclusive economic zone.
At least 129 alumni from San Beda University signed a fraternal statement of concern asking Duterte to uphold the 2016 Hague ruling that gave the historic win for the Philippines against China’s sweeping claim in the West Philippine Sea.
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“When a part of our country’s territory is taken against our will by the People’s Republic of China and our countrymen, particularly the fishermen, are threatened with force from exclusively enjoying our nation’s marine resources, the President is solemnly bound to uphold, defend, and protect his countrymen and the integrity of our national territory,” the statement read.
The group laid out three request to the president, first to retract his repeated statement publicly that China is in possession, retract his declaration that the Arbitral Award is just a piece of paper to be thrown in the waste basket, and lastly categorically, demonstrably, and publicly” uphold the 1987 Philippine Constitution particularly Art XII Sec 2.
Duterte finished his law degree at San Beda in 1972.
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“This fraternal appeal is respectfully made in answer to [a] clarion call for San Beda, our country, and God,” the statement read.
Duterte repeatedly belittled the Hague ruling in the past weeks which was a different tune from his statement back in September 2020 at United Nations General Assembly rejecting any attempts to undermine the arbitral win.
The group joined the call of retired associate justice Antonio Carpio who urged Duterte to retract his statement which he described as “detrimental to the country’s sovereignty and sovereign rights in the West Philippine Sea.” (RA)
