Solons on 9th year of WPS arbitral ruling: Uphold the spirit of award

An aerial view from the Philippine Navy’s Agusta Westland 109 helicopter shows BRP Jose Rizal (FF-150), USS Shoup (DDG-86), and JS Noshiro (FFM-3) executing synchronized maneuvers during a joint maritime drill near Panatag Shoal in the West Philippine Sea in this file photo taken last March 28, 2025. — Photos by Lt. Col, John Paul Salgado, AFP public affairs office
MANILA, Philippines — As the Philippines marked the ninth anniversary of the arbitral ruling that affirmed its sovereignty over the West Philippine Sea (WPS), lawmakers from the House of Representatives on Sunday called on the Filipinos to uphold the spirit of the award and combat disinformation distorting the ruling.
Reelected Leyte 1st District Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez described the arbitral ruling as a “victory of principle over power, of law over intimidation.”
“The Arbitral Award reaffirms what we’ve always known in our hearts — the West Philippine Sea belongs to the Filipino people. Not because we are the strongest, but because it is rightfully ours under international law,” Romualdez said in a statement.
Romualdez added that the victory “reminds us of what we can achieve when we stand as one people, bound by patriotism and a deep love for country.”
READ: 9 years after arbitral ruling, China still defies PH sea claims
On July 12, 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration ruled in favor of the Philippines’ sovereign rights over the WPS under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, dismissing China’s nine-dash line claims.
Romualdez said that the arbitral ruling is a testament to the Filipinos’ rightful ownership of our seas, noting that the award “serves as a strength for the people and a moral compass for nations that seek justice through peaceful means.”
He then called on the Filipinos to fight disinformation that seeks to disregard the historic ruling.
“This is not just about maritime boundaries. It’s about our dignity, our future, and our duty to the next generation. The rule of law is our shield, but unity is our sword,” he noted.
`Young Guns’
On the other hand, the “Young Guns” of the lower chamber, Representatives Paolo Ortega, Zia Alonto Adiong, Jay Khonghun, and Lordan Suan, underscored the importance of protecting the ruling and stopping the lies that deceive the people.
Ortega said that combating disinformation is a fight for the Filipino fishermen and their families.
“These laws are our firm stand to safeguard our seas, ensuring every Filipino’s right to our waters is protected. They’re a promise to our fisherfolk and coastal communities that their livelihoods and our nation’s future are secure under the rule of law,” Ortega said in a separate statement.
The “Young Guns” said that the statement came after China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian on Saturday said that the ruling is “nothing but a piece of paper that is illegal, null and void, and non-binding.”
“This statement is a deliberate attempt to undermine international law and the Philippines’ legitimate rights, further highlighting the need to counter such falsehoods with facts and unity,” the “Young Guns” said.
The bloc also said that they are “dedicated” to countering false propaganda that threatens national unity on WPS issues. With this, Suan affirmed that they “will ensure the truth about the West Philippine Sea prevails.”
READ: 7 out of 10 Filipinos agree with PH assertion of rights in WPS — survey
“Disinformation weakens our fight and sows confusion among our people. We’ll keep pushing facts to strengthen our nation’s resolve, ensuring every Filipino understands the truth about our rights in the West Philippine Sea and stands proudly with us to defend our sovereignty,” said Adiong.
Khonghun said that “the Filipino people are behind us,” citing a Pulse Asia survey showing that 73% of Filipinos agree with the government’s assertion on the Philippines’ rights on the WPS. /mr