MANILA — Retired Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonio Carpio has identified two core issues he wants to tackle in a proposed “friendly debate” with Senator Rodante Marcoleta, amid renewed controversy over the West Philippine Sea (WPS).
Carpio said the debate would focus first on whether the West Philippine Sea has a legal basis, countering Marcoleta’s claim that such a designation does not exist.
The second issue, he explained, is whether Philippine maritime zones and island features, including the Kalayaan Island Group, fall within the West Philippine Sea.
“These are very simple questions,” Carpio said, noting that addressing them clearly could help Filipinos better understand the legal and territorial issues surrounding the West Philippine Sea.
Carpio earlier agreed to Marcoleta’s call for a debate after the senator challenged Philippine Coast Guard spokesperson Commodore Jay Tarriela to a public discussion before accepting Tarriela’s invitation to visit the Kalayaan Island Group.
Marcoleta has insisted on holding a debate first, while Tarriela has said he is open to discussions on less contentious topics but stressed that the Philippines’ rights in the West Philippine Sea are not negotiable.
In reiterating his position, Carpio reminded elected officials that freedom of expression comes with constitutional responsibilities.
He emphasized that senators and other government officials have sworn an oath to defend the Constitution, which clearly defines Philippine territory and mandates the protection of the country’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
“The Constitution states that the State shall protect its marine wealth in the exclusive economic zone,” Carpio said. “That is a duty we must uphold.”
While acknowledging that differing opinions may be tolerated, Carpio stressed that public officials must exercise caution in their statements, particularly on matters involving national sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The West Philippine Sea refers to areas that fall within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone, as affirmed by the 2016 arbitral ruling in The Hague.
Despite the ruling, tensions persist due to China’s continued activities in contested waters.
In recent months, debates involving lawmakers, legal experts, and security officials have intensified, reflecting broader public concern over how the Philippines asserts and defends its maritime rights.