MANILA, Philippines — Former Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonio Carpio on Sunday suggested several alternatives to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to resupply troops stationed aboard the BRP Sierra Madre, instead of allegedly relying on China’s terms under the so-called “Ayungin Deal.”
Carpio gave his insight after the DFA defended the deal and challenged the former justice to propose practical alternatives amid his sustained criticism over the agreement.
READ: DFA: Ayungin deal does not require China’s approval for PH missions
“The AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) can resupply through raindrops, drones and fast boats. Never should the PH re-supply under China’s terms because that would be an obvious trap,” said Carpio in a statement.
“Why is the DFA so naive? Even our own Navy and Coast Guard personnel are aghast,” he added.
Prior to the exchange, Carpio has repeatedly called for the cancellation of the deal, arguing that the arbitral ruling already established Ayungin Shoal as part of the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
But the DFA defended it, as the “Provisional Understanding” with China covers rotation and resupply missions to the grounded BRP Sierra Madre “to avoid misunderstanding and miscalculation.”
READ: Pangilinan seeks Senate probe into PH’s ‘Ayungin Deal’ with China
It also maintained that understanding “is not a grant of or a request for permission to any foreign government” and “does not recognize any foreign jurisdiction over Philippine waters.”
The Philippines and China have been embroiled in maritime disputes after the latter country made sweeping claims over the South China Sea including the West Philippine Sea, which is well within the Southeast Asian country’s EEZ.
The 2016 Arbitral Award which stemmed from a case filed by Manila in 2013 already invalidated China’s claim, but the Asian giant continued to deliberately ignore the ruling, consistently encroaching on Philippine waters. /cb
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