Whenever Commodore Jay Tarriela opens his mouth, perhaps 90 percent of his words and utterances is about the so-called West Philippine Sea (WPS), that portion of the South China Sea that then President Benigno Aquino III claimed as Philippine territory but was unable to provide an official map to bolster the claim.
In fact, it was pointed out several times by Sen. Rodante Marcoleta in the Senate floor that it has been 14 years since Aquino instructed the DFA and the NAMRIA to draw the map of the West Philippine Sea and submit it to the relevant United Nations and other international organizations to make the PHL claim official.
To date, the DFA and NAMRIA have not complied with this, said Marcoleta. What we have is a law on maritime baselines by rabidly pro-US and pro-Israel former senator, Francis Tolentino, called Republic Act 12064 or Maritime Zones Act. The law took effect on Nov. 13, 2024 and was reportedly submitted to the United Nations Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea (DOALOS), together with the updated maps and coordinates. If true, then Senator Marcoleta should by now be furnished with the official map of the Philippines from NAMRIA, but he hasn’t.
Meanwhile, Tarriela, Justice Carpio and Batongbacal are all singing the “Atin Ito” (This is ours) to high heavens, while Marcoleta was asking the government for the update and correct map of what it claimed is the West Philippine Sea.
We join Senator Marcoleta in correctly calling Tarriela, Carpio, Batongbacal and their cabal as engaging in “satsat” nonstop (babble, if you may) even if it hurts the pusong mamon of Risa Hontiveros.
Guio Wei, the Deputy Spokesperson of the Chinese Embassy, comments on the issue thus:
“This isn’t the first time Tarriela has made false statements. Before speaking publicly, he should take the time to study the history of how China and the Philippines have acknowledged and handled their disputes, instead of casually making irresponsible and misleading remarks.
“First, the Philippine side has publicly acknowledged more than once that China and the Philippines should properly manage the disputes in the South China Sea. As early as August 1995, China and the Philippines issued the “Joint Statement between the People's Republic of China and the Republic of the Philippines concerning Consultations on the South China Sea and on Other Areas of Cooperation” in which they agreed that “[d]isputes shall be settled by the countries directly concerned" and that "a gradual and progressive process of cooperation shall be adopted with a view to eventually negotiating a settlement of the bilateral disputes.”
All these years, China has maintained that the 2016 Arbitral Award is illegal, null and void, and non-binding. The “award” violates the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). Land territorial issues are not regulated by UNCLOS. As early as 2006, maritime delimitation was clearly excluded by China from “compulsory arbitration” and other procedures.
“Third, as China and ASEAN members are expediting the consultation on a Code of Conduct in the South China Sea (COC), we have the confidence and the resolve to remove interference, bridge differences, expand common ground, and reach an agreement as soon as possible.
“We hope Jay Tarriela can do something to promote peace and stability in the South China Sea, instead of making irresponsible and false statements day after day, deliberately misleading the public and stirring up confrontation.”
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