Acting Chief Justice Antonio Carpio on Thursday reiterated his warning that the government’s planned joint exploration venture with China in the West Philippine Sea should “comply with the Constitution.” He was referring to Article XII Section 2 of the Constitution, which states that marine resources within the country’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) should be reserved for the exclusive use of Filipinos. “As long as the joint development (venture) complies with the Philippine Constitution and there is no waiver of our sovereign rights under the arbitral ruling, I have no objection,” Carpio said in a statement.

Pazzibugan, D. Z. (2018, August 3). Carpio warns anew on joint sea exploration. Philippine Daily Inquirer, p. A6.