Prof. Hilbay responds to journalists' comments on decisions he made as Solicitor General Professor Florin Hilbay throws light on some muddled reportage on aspects of the legal strategy used in the Philippines’ case against China over the West Philippine Sea. In the “Response to Ms. Hofileña and Ms. Vitug,” Professor Hilbay, who was part of the Philippine legal team as the country’s Solicitor General from June 2015 to June 2016, explains the technical issues, specifically regarding Itu Aba in the Spratley chain of islands. Prof. Hilbay’s statement was in reaction to an article written by Rappler editors Chay Hofileña and…

The Philippines v. China verdict: China’s crossroads (Reproduced from https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/philippines-v-china-verdict-chinas-crossroad/) 15 Jul 2016|Jay L Batongbacal ‘An overwhelming victory’ is how Paul Reichler, lead counsel of the Philippines, describes the Award issued by Permanent Court of Arbitration Tribunal in the case of Philippines v. China concerning the South China Sea (SCS).  The Tribunal unanimously granted all but a handful of Manila’s claims, and in doing so laid down a significant number of rulings that will reshape the discourse over the SCS disputes in the years to come. First and foremost, the Tribunal definitively characterised and then struck down the most expansive…

Prof. Jay L. Batongbacal interviewed on Mornings@ANC regarding the South China Sea Arbitration China will accept ruling over time, expert says Trishia Billones, ABS-CBN News Posted at Jul 13 2016 09:07 PM (Reproduced from https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/07/13/16/china-will-accept-ruling-over-time-expert-says) 'Don't expect China to remove structures,' says UP's Jay Batongbacal The director of the University of the Philippines Institute for Maritime Affairs and Law of the Sea said on Wednesday the arbitration verdict may be binding on all parties, but its effects will not be immediate. Speaking to Mornings@ANC, Atty. Jay Batongbacal said it may take decades before China complies with the award from the Permanent Court…

Supreme Court Associate Justice Francis Jardeleza and former Solicitor General Professor Florin Hilbay: Favorable ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration as leverage in the Philippines' relations with China.  The joint statement of the former Solicitors General is available. here Reproduced from (https://www.rappler.com/nation/139521-duterte-ruling-assert-ph-rights-china)   Duterte urged to use tribunal ruling to assert PH rights vs China (UPDATED) Solicitors general under the Aquino administration say the ruling is 'a potent legal platform' for our 'goal of effectively asserting our maritime entitlements under UNCLOS' by Jee Y. Geronimo @jeegeronimo Published 7:51 PM, July 12, 2016 Updated 4:45 PM, July 13, 2016   BALL…

ICC Justice Prof. Raul Pangalangan: ASEAN countries can use ruling by an international court to make a stand on South China Sea disputes without hurting China. (Reproduced from https://globalnation.inquirer.net/140805/with-un-court-verdict-asean-can-make-stand-on-sea-dispute) With UN court verdict, Asean can make stand on sea dispute By: Estrella Torres - Reporter / @StarTorresINQ Philippine Daily Inquirer / 03:02 AM July 10, 2016 Editors’ Note. This story has been re-edited to reflect the fact that the views of former dean Raul Pangalangan were aired before he was elected a judge of the International Criminal Court. Members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) could use this week’s ruling by an international court to…

The Philippines: Into Stormy Seas Ahead Download the paper in PDF format here https://law.upd.edu.ph/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/ASEANFocusSouthChinaSeaArbitration.pdf