Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana apologized on Friday for describing as an “empty victory” the historic 2016 ruling of the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague that favored the Philippines’ claims in the West Philippine Sea. But Lorenzana insisted that the ruling merely gave the country “false hopes” because it could not be enforced.

Gamil, J. T. (2018, July 28). Lorenzana apologizes for 'empty victory' remark, but.... Philippine Daily Inquirer, A5.