War never option in sea dispute with China, Carpio says

War was never an option whenever the Philippines asserted its rightful claims in the South China Sea, Acting Chief Antonio Carpio said on Monday.

Carpio made the remark amid recent statements by President Rodrigo Duterte that he would have asserted the country's jurisdiction in the disputed waters if it didn't mean going to war with China.

Duterte has repeatedly indicated that the country would not have a chance against the might Chinese armed forces.

"I think it’s a false choice, false option because war is not an option and it’s never been an option and it would be unconstitutional to the Philippines to go to war to assert its sovereign rights in West Philippine Sea," Carpio told News To Go.

The West Philippine Sea is that part of the South China Sea which the Philippines claims.

"Sabi ng Constitution natin, we renounce war as an instrument of social policy so we should not even talk about war because we do not go to war. Bawal... The constitution prohibits that," Carpio said.

Carpio insisted that the Philippines should take advantage of the international law in addressing issues with China.

He said the Philippine government in 2012 sent lawyers to question the move of the Asian superpower moved in on the Scarborough Shoal.

"When China seized Scarborough Shoal in 2012, we did not send the Marines to retake it, we sent lawyers to The Hague to question the 9-line and we won that. So we should follow international law and take advantage of the international law," Carpio said.

"So war is not an option, we have never used that argument before. We went to The Hague precisely because war is not an option and we won and we should continue using international law," he added.

President Rodrigo Duterte previously said the Philippines could not afford to go to war with China as it will probably result in a great destruction and a lot of losses for the military.

Instead, Duterte chose to maintain warm ties with the country as he also believes that China can be the Philippines' partner in its economic and industrial projects.

Meanwhile, Carpio underscored that diplomatic protest is necessary to preserve the Philippines' sovereign rights over the contested region.

"If you do not protest, you are deemed to have consented impliedly, mawawala 'yung sovereignty or sovereign rights mo," Carpio said. —Anna Felicia Bajo/NB, GMA News