Kin of Filipino 'discoverer' of Spratlys frustrated over gov't inaction on PHL victory vs. China

The family of the late Tomas Cloma, the lawyer who claimed to have discovered the Spratly Islands, is "frustrated" over the current administration's treatment of the Philippines' 2016 victory over China before the Permanent Court of Arbitration.

"Nanalo na tayo eh. 'Yun ang nakaka-frustrate, nanalo na, so parang sayang naman, so for nothing. We had a chance, legally. There was a decision already, may legal basis, we proved, the Philipine government was able to probe legally that may basis tayo [sa claim]," said Rizz Cloma-Santos, Tomas Cloma's granddaugther, in Ian Cruz's report on Balitanghali on Friday.

She was referring to the PCA's ruling invalidating China's massive claim over the South China Sea, including territories that are within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone.

According to the report, the Philippines' assertion of sovereignty over the Spratly Islands is said to have originated from Cloma's claim of discovering  it in 1956 and declaring it as the "Free Territory of Freedomland."

The Philippine government used this claim as basis when it filed the case against China before The Hague-based tribunal in 2013.

Tomas Cloma died on his 92nd birthday in 1996.

"I'm pretty sure he'll be very, very proud that, you know, he was proven right after all these years," Cloma-Santos said regarding the Philippine victory.

Cloma's family, together with experts, lamented that the late lawyer's claim was not immediately recognized by the Philippine government. "He felt defeated," Cloma-Santos said.

Cloma had once also taken his claim to the United Nations General Assembly but he was not successful.

"He felt defeated," said the explorer's granddaughter. "Because nga naman, he had invested his own money to have the islands plotted. He went, that notice to the world, he went to UN and filed that."

Prof. Jay Batongbacal, director of UP Institute for Maritime Affairs and Law of the Sea, said the country's claim over the disputed territory would have been stronger if it officially recognized Cloma's claim when he first brought it to the government's attention.

"Nung pumasok si Cloma, eh sumunod agad yung Philippine government at in-occupy ang lugar, then malamang nga, naging atin na 'yan. Pero ayon sa kasaysayan, 'di nag-move ang gobyerno for a long time kaya since that time, pabali-baligtad nga ang mga posisyon," Batongbacal said.

As Cloma's son, Rizal Cloma, would recall in an episode of iWitness: "Noong araw noon, walang, hindi alam na Spratly yon. Ngayon noong in-inquire niya sa gobyerno kung anong status nung mga isla-isla na yon, lumabas nga sa record ng gobyerno, walang indication sa map, sa navigational map, wala nakalagay lang doon, unexplored."

Tomas Cloma received a Legion of Honor Award during the administration of Fidel V. Ramos in 1996. He was also given an Honorary Vice Admiral rank in the Philippine Navy. —KBK, GMA News