NMC: We'll make sure 2nd WPS case vs China is 'foolproof'

The National Maritime Council (NMC) on Wednesday said the Philippine government will make sure that the second international case against China in connection with the West Philippine Sea (WPS) will be “foolproof.”

“Basically the guidance, if ever we will file a case, whatever perspective it would be, we will make sure that it will be foolproof,” NMC spokesperson Undersecretary Alexander Lopez said in a press briefing.

“Hindi yung magfa-file tayo (It is not going to be like we file the case) and then we're not prepared to file, to be ready with all the information, data, proofs, then, that will be the time,” he added.

Justice Secretary Crispin Remulla in January said the Philippines is in the process of deciding on an international platform as to where to file a case against China for alleged damage to the marine environment as Manila pursues a second high-profile legal challenge against Beijing over the WPS issue.

Once the requirements on evidence are achieved, Lopez said the Philippines will file another international case against China.

“Kapag meron na tayong lahat nun, talagang foolproof na, then we will file whatever it is, environmental, another case,” Lopez said.

“Then, we will handle that through the Department of Justice and it will be coursed through the NMC for further vetting or consideration of study. So that's how the process works,” he added. 

Asked if the Philippines is still considering to settle the issue directly with China through diplomatic efforts and if such efforts stall the filing of the international case, DOJ's senior state counsel Atty. Fretti Ganchoon discouraged connecting the two matters.

“The Philippines has always done that, the filing of diplomatic protest. At least, do not connect the filing of diplomatic protest to the decision on the filing of an international case,” she said.

“It's not a requirement, so it's not part of the consideration that diplomatic protest is just part of the regular action of the government. Each time there is a violation, diplomatic protest will be filed,” she added.

On the progress of the preparation for the possible case, Ganchoon said that it is still understudy.

“So the DOJ is preparing of course, but the decision would not be made just by the Department of Justice. It's going to be an interagency decision,” she said.

In the first quarter of 2025, NMC reported that a total of 638 Chinese vessels were spotted in WPS.

Around 270 “illegal, coercive, aggressive, and deceptive" actions were committed by China including dangerous maneuvers, shadowing, blocking, and driving away of Philippine ships as well as disinformation.

Tensions continue as Beijing claims almost all of the South China Sea, a conduit for more than $3 trillion of annual shipborne commerce, including parts claimed by the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Brunei.

Parts of the South China Sea that fall within Philippine territory have been renamed by the government as West Philippine Sea to reinforce the country’s claim.

The West Philippine Sea refers to the maritime areas on the western side of the Philippine archipelago including Luzon Sea and the waters around, within and adjacent to the Kalayaan Island Group and Bajo de Masinloc.

In 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration in the Hague ruled in favor of the Philippines over China's claims in the South China Sea, saying that it had "no legal basis."

China has refused to recognize the decision.—RF, GMA Integrated News