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Gov't, petitioners agreed on junking of West Philippine Sea kalikasan suit —Calida


Solicitor General Jose Calida on Tuesday claimed that the government and the petitioners in a petition for the protection of the environment in the West Philippine Sea agreed that the case be dismissed.

The Supreme Court has not confirmed the development as of this writing.

"The parties, petitioners and respondents, agreed that the case be dismissed by the Supreme Court. To us, that's a win because we are the respondents," Calida said, remarking that this may be the "fastest case" he has appeared in.

The government's chief lawyer made the announcement after Chief Justice Lucas Bersamin suspended oral arguments on the case and called the parties to a conference.

Before the suspension, Calida revealed that many of the Palawan and Zambales fishermen who were supposedly behind the petition -- which accuses the government of neglecting its duty of enforcing environmental laws in three features of the West Philippine Sea -- claimed that they neither knew of nor supported the filing of the case.

When asked to confirm Calida's statement on the agreement to dismiss, human rights lawyer Chel Diokno, one of the lawyers of the fishermen who brought the case, said: "After being called to chambers, both parties agreed to explore the filing of a joint motion in the premises and were given until Friday to do so."

The fishermen, Diokno, and the Integrated Bar of the Philippines have asked the Court to issue a writ of kalikasan for Panatag Shoal, Ayungin Shoal, and Panganiban Reef.

The petitioners want the Court to order the Duterte administration to permanently stop from "neglecting the performance of their duties in violation of environmental laws" in the areas.

A writ of kalikasan is a remedy available to persons or groups whose right to a balanced and healthful ecology is violated or threatened with violation.

Citing evidence submitted by the government to the international arbitral court that ruled for the Philippines in 2016, the petitioners alleged that Chinese fishermen and vessels have harvested endangered species and used cyanide and dynamite in Panatag and Ayungin Shoals, violating the Philippine Fisheries Code.

They also assailed Chinese construction activities in Panganiban Reef.

They said the environmental damage covers Masinloc, Zambales and Kalayaan, Palawan. —NB, GMA News

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