2 days ago
Ronnie Puno wants PH territorial limits clarified amid Cha-cha push
House Deputy Speaker Ronaldo "Ronnie" Puno said Thursday one of the reasons he is calling for a constitutional convention to revise the 1987 Constitution is to be able to clarify the territorial limits of the Philippines, including the West Philippine Sea.
The Antipolo City 1st District Representative told Super Radyo dzBB that there is no mention of the term "West Philippine Sea" in the Constitution, thus the waters west of Luzon should be legally named as such.
"Maraming gulo ngayon sa West Philippine Sea, mukhang mapapasok tayo sa malaking gulo diyan. Eh ni walang banggit sa West Philippine Sea sa ating Saligang Batas eh," said Puno, also a former secretary of the interior and local government.
(There's a lot of issues regarding the West Philippine Sea right now, and it looks like we might get dragged into big trouble there. However, there is no mention of the West Philippine Sea in our Constitution.)
"Pangalawa, 'yung… 200 [nautical mile exclusive] economic zone, wala ring banggit du'n. Eh nandiyan na sa international law kasi 'yan eh. Siguro dapat maihabol 'yan para may base lahat ng pinag-uuspaan dito sa West Philippine Sea," he added.
(Secondly, there's no mention of our 200- nautical mile exclusive economic zone either. That is already in international law. Maybe we should also put that in our own law so that everything that we're saying regarding the West Philippine Sea has basis.)
The Philippine government sued China before an international arbitral tribunal in The Hague in 2013. It ruled in favor of the Philippines in July 2016 when it junked China's nine-dash claim over the South China Sea.
China, however, rejected the Philippines' call to comply with the 2016 arbitration ruling, calling the decision "illegal and invalid."
'Ambiguity'
When he called for a constitutional convention (con-con) on Monday, Puno said the Charter contained certain provisions that were "marked by ambiguity and procedural deficiency."
Under a con-con, the electorate elects delegates who will propose amendments, which will be subject to ratification in a plebiscite.
Constitutional provisions which he cited as vague include those related to: impeachment of public officials; membership in the Judicial and Bar Council; granting of tax exemptions; bestowing presidential grants of amnesty; and terms of office for barangay officials. — VDV, GMA Integrated News
