Speaker Feliciano “Sonny” Belmonte Jr. expressed confidence yesterday that the international arbitral tribunal based in The Hague would favorably act on the arbitration initiative being pursued by the Philippines against China’s nine-dash line claim over the South China Sea and the West Philippine Sea. The House chief, who is part of the high level delegation of executive and legislative officials to The Hague said he has no doubt that the arbitral tribunal would take jurisdiction of the country’s case challenging Beijing’s maritime claim and would favor the Philippine government over China. “Our arguments and the facts of history favor us. I am confident the tribunal will favor us. Otherwise, smaller countries will be at the mercy of bigger countries,” he said in an interview. He said his “presence is simply to say that all the political branches of government are in accord.”

Luci, C. M. (2015, July 5). SB confident The Hague will favor PH in sea dispute. Manila Bulletin, p. 6.