DOJ creates maritime unit to uphold 2016 South China Sea arbitral ruling

The Department of Justice (DOJ) has formed a unit to sustain the gains from the 2016 arbitral ruling that invalidated China’s “nine-dash line” claim, Justice Secretary Fredderick Vida said Monday.

“To maintain and to sustain the gains from the arbitral award, the DOJ now has a dedicated unit, sa legal services natin, to be a source of expertise on this matter,” Vida said in an ambush interview.

“Kaya meron nang dedicated na maritime unit, no, parang maritime law center na tayong binuo dito sa DOJ para meron na tayong single repository na expertise on this matter,” he added.

(That is why we now have a dedicated maritime unit, a maritime law center, that we established within the DOJ, giving us a single repository of expertise on these matters.)

This came after the department held a legal forum commemorating the 10th anniversary of the 2016 South China Sea Arbitral Award.

On the 10th anniversary of the arbitral ruling, the Philippines and 13 other countries reiterated that there is no legal basis for China's claims in the South China Sea.

Vida said that the government must fight for its rights as the award is not self-executing.

“Sa atin ngayon, dito sa DOJ, kasama ang ibang ahensya, ay ipinagdiriwang natin ‘yung 10 years niya. Pero patuloy pa rin. Ang diwa kasi ng desisyon na ito ay hindi lamang para sa ating henerasyon, lalo na sa mga susunod na henerasyon,” he said.

(Here at the DOJ, together with other government agencies, we are now commemorating the 10th anniversary of the ruling. But our efforts continue. The spirit of this decision is not only for our generation, but especially for the generations to come.)

“Napakaganda ng naging position dito ng gobyerno, ng Pilipinas. Pinili natin na imbes na mag-away, dumulog at pakinggan ang rule of law,” he added.

(The government and the Philippines took a very commendable position on this matter. Instead of choosing conflict, we chose to turn to and uphold the rule of law.)

China has refused to recognize the ruling. –NB, GMA News