Acting Chief Justice Antonio T. Carpio said yesterday the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed between the Philippines and China on joint exploration of natural resources in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) "has safeguards to protect Philippine sovereignty." "I think we're pretty safe. The government has included service contractors, so if we cooperate, if the cooperation with China on oil and gas activities will be through service contractors we're very safe," Carpio said. Carpio-the most senior Supreme Court (SC) Justice and a nominee to the top post in the judiciary, and a member of the Philippines' arbitration team in the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) - has been vocal against China's claims in WPS.

Panaligan, R. G., & Kabiling, G. D. (2018, November 26). Carpio cites PH-China oil exploration deal. Manila Bulletin, pp. 1, 13.