Envoy discusses importance of West Philippine Sea, 2016 arbitral ruling

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine embassy in Ankara hosted a special screening of the West Philippine Sea documentary “Kalayaan: Karapatan sa Karagatan,” aimed to educate viewers on the Philippines’ maritime claims in the West Philippine Sea and its ongoing efforts to resolve the contentious issue.

Over 50 members from the Turkiye academe, legal profession, Filipino community and Turkish students participated in the program. 

Philippine Ambassador to Ankara Henry Bensurto Jr. emphasized the importance of the West Philippine Sea and the 2016 Arbitral Ruling.

“Kalayaan: Karapatan sa Karagatan” is the first episode in a three-part series. The first episode centers on the impact on Filipino fishers and how the territorial dispute has affected their livelihood.

After the film screening, audience members participated in a question-and-answer program to learn and understand more about the intricacies of the international maritime dispute.  

Bensurto, an expert on the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea and maritime security and the West Philippine Sea issue, was part of the Philippine team that filed the arbitration case against China on the West Philippine Sea. The Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) ruled in favor of the Philippines.

The government of the late former president Benigno Aquino III challenged China’s excessive and expansive claims in the South China Sea before the PCA. It was the first time a nation challenged China over its maritime claims.

The late foreign affairs secretary Albert del Rosario led the Philippines’ winning arbitration case against China.