Acting Chief Justice Antonio Carpio will not change his strong stance on the country’s sovereignty over the West Philippine Sea in his bid for the most coveted post in the judiciary. Carpio, one of the five most senior magistrates in the Supreme Court automatically nominated for the chief justice post, said that he has no plans of changing his position on the issue, which is contrary to the policy position of President Rodrigo Duterte not to protest China’s reported incursion in disputed areas. Carpio has been calling on the Duterte administration to file a new protest against China before the Permanent Court of Arbitration over the incident involving the harassment of Filipino fishermen by Chinese Coast Guard in the Scarborough Shoal off Zambales province.

Requejo, R. (2018, October 23). Carpio won't back down stand vs china. Manila Standard, p. A3.