Justice Carpio refutes Duterte gov’t: China can’t fish in PH

Justice Carpio refutes Duterte gov’t: China can’t fish in PH

By Paterno Esmaquel II
Rappler.com

MANILA– Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio refuted the Duterte government on Tuesday evening, June 25, and said it cannot allow Chinese fishermen to fish in the West Philippine Sea.

Carpio issued this statement after Malacañang, interpreting President Rodrigo Duterte, said the Philippines “will allow” China to fish in the West Philippine Sea “because we’re friends.”

“The Philippine government cannot allow Chinese fishermen to fish in Philippine exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in the West Philippine Sea because it will violate the Constitution,” said Carpio, one of the Philippines’ leading experts on the West Philippine Sea.

He added: “The Constitution mandates, ‘The State shall protect the nation’s marine wealth in its…exclusive economic zone, and reserve its use and enjoyment exclusively to Filipino citizens.’ This means that the Philippine government cannot allow Chinese fishermen to fish in our EEZ in the West Philippine Sea. This also means that the ‘use and enjoyment’ of the fish in our EEZ is reserved exclusively to Filipinos.”

(Read story…)