The Arbitral Award is the “north star” that would hopefully keep us on course in the present and provide the right direction in the future, Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr., on the 5th anniversary of the Permanent Court of Arbitration’s (PCA) historic award granted to the Philippines in 2016, said. “For as long as nations abide by the rule of law and not of military might, the award is the north star that will keep us on course in the present, and that will point us back to the right direction in the future should we, in a moment of weakness or inaction, lose our way,” the country’s top diplomat said. “The award is final. We firmly reject attempts to undermine it; may, even erase it from law, history and our collective memories,” Locsin added.

Mercene, R. (2021, June 24). DFA chief Locsin on award of SCS arbitration: 'It's final'. Business Mirror, p. A8.