Carpio backs 'tit for tat' for China minister after Teodoro ban, 2nd arbitration case

Retired Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio advocates retaliation in kind against China’s defense chief after the Chinese foreign ministry banned Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. and his family from China’s territories.

“Well, dapat tit for tat ‘yan. We also declare na persona non grata ‘yung counterpart ni Teodoro sa China. If you don’t retaliate to the same level, talagang gagawin ang gagawin nila. They’ll move to the next level,” Carpio said in Ivan Mayrina's report on “24 Oras Weekend” on Sunday.

(Well, it should be tit for tat. We should also declare Teodoro’s counterpart in China as persona non grata. If you don’t retaliate to the same level, they will absolutely keep doing what they are doing. They’ll move to the next level.)

Teodoro was banned because he had "repeatedly made erroneous remarks concerning China," which undermined China's "legitimate interests" and bilateral ties, the China foreign ministry said Thursday.

The sanction prohibits Teodoro, his wife, and his children from entering mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macau.

2nd arbitration case

Carpio also supports the filing of a second arbitration case against China.

The retired justice was one of the key figures behind the 2016 arbitration case won by the Philippines before an international tribunal.

The ruling invalidated China’s nine-dash line claim, which asserts ownership over nearly the entire South China Sea. However, China does not recognize the ruling.

On Saturday, maritime expert Jay Batongbacal said a filing of a new case is already being studied and pushed by the academe.

Similar to the first arbitration case, the proposed case centers on Bajo de Masinloc after a Chinese floating platform was discovered in the area.

Carpio believes this is only the precursor to larger structures, mirroring China's previous actions that converted reefs into artificial islands and military bases.

“This one is a prelude already. What they did in Fiery Cross Reef and in Mischief Reef, they’re doing now in Scarborough Shoal. If it’s a common fishing ground, all the parties involved must decide how it will be—how fishing can be made sustainable,” Carpio said.

He added that if the Philippines cannot counter China’s military forces, it must keep the law on its side and secure the backing of the international community—something that can be achieved if an international tribunal rules in the country's favor once again.

“Ngayon, we have to pile on because that’s our only weapon now. If we just say na wala namang nangyayari, well, that’s a statement that does not appreciate what’s happening here,” Carpio said.

(For now, we have to pile on because that’s our only weapon now. If we just say that nothing is happening, well, that’s a statement that does not appreciate what’s happening here.)

GMA News has reached out to Malacañang for comment on the filing of a second arbitration case.

Meanwhile, the National Maritime Council stated that they are continuously monitoring Chinese activities at Bajo de Masinloc.

The council added that the government's response—including the filing of a lawsuit, if necessary—will depend on the assessment of the concerned agencies. — Lyjah Tiffany Bonzo/BM, GMA News