Prof. Jay Batongbacal: Philippines has absolute sovereignty over Scarborough Shoal, beyond any doubt. In an interview with ANC's Beyond Politics program, Prof. Jay Batongbacal, Director of the UP Institute for Maritime Affairs and Law of the Sea, emphasized that the Philippine sovereignty over Scarborough Shoal is "indubitably absolute" under the Republic Act 9522 or the Philippine Baselines Law. Several government officials have released statements expressing uncertainty over the ownership of Scarborough Shoal--a position that Prof. Batongbacal has found "troubling." "That should not be the position stated by our own government officials," he said. The full article and and a video…

Understanding the issue about Chinese survey vessels in Benham Rise Published March 14, 2017 10:19am (Reproduced from https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/opinion/content/603095/understanding-the-issue-about-chinese-survey-vessels-in-benham-rise/story/) By JAY BATONGBACAL Benham Rise is an underwater plateau that stretches from the coasts of Cagayan and Bicol up to approximately 300-350 nautical miles (nm) in the Pacific Ocean. A large part of this plateau is within the 200 nm Exclusive Economic Zone and continental shelf of the Philippines. An additional area of seabed extending around 150 nm was successfully claimed by the Philippines as its “extended continental shelf” (ECS) in accordance with Article 76 of the UN Convention on the Law…

'OSG, DOJ CAN'T AGREE ON CASE' Ex-SolGen Hilbay says case vs. De Lima 'spurious,' asks SC to set her free (Reproduced from: https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/nation/603149/ex-solgen-hilbay-says-case-vs-de-lima-spurious-asks-sc-to-set-her-free-nbsp/story/) Published March 14, 2017 3:24pm  By VIRGIL LOPEZ, GMA News   Former Solicitor General Florin Hilbay on Tuesday hit the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Office of Solicitor General (OSG) for insisting on Senator Leila De Lima's links to the illegal drug trade inside the New Bilibid Prison. During the oral arguments at the Supreme Court (SC) on De Lima's petition questioning the validity of her arrest, Hilbay said the government had no concrete evidence against…

Prof. Jay Batongbacal: PH “losing room for manoeuvrability” over West Philippine Sea (CNNPhilippines.com)

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Judicial Review of Peace Initiatives Journal publication by Dante Gatmaytan (UCLA Pacific Basin Law Journal) Abstract In Province of North Cotabato v. Government of the Republic of the Philippines Peace Panel on Ancestral Domain, the Supreme Court of the Philippines struck down a preliminary document that identified guideposts for future peace negotiations with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. Separatists’ aspirations are unlikely to be embodied in existing Constitutions, since it is precisely because their aspirations are inconsistent with those of the majority that they are fighting against the State. As a result, peace agreements stretch Constitutions to make room for…

Prof. John Molo offers free legal services for anti-Marcos protesters who were sexually harassed online (CNN.com) Prof. John Molo offers free legal services for anti-Marcos protesters who were sexually harassed online "I am DONE with just shaming and correcting acts of blatant misogyny perpetrated online. If anyone knows any of the female students who are being sexually harassed by lewd pro-Marcos trolls, please ask them if they wish to pursue legal action. We will offer our services for free, along with other lawyers I have talked to." Prof. John Molo wrote on his Facebook account, following the torrent of online…