The country’s dispute with China over the West Philippine Sea should be made an election issue, with each presidential candidate obliged to make public his or her stand, Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio said. The Permanent Court of Arbitration based in The Hague has jurisdiction over the case filed by Manila to confirm its entitlements in the West Philippine Sea and oppose Beijing's massive claim and provocative moves in disputed waters. He pointed out that Beijing has been grabbing the country's regime of islands in the West Philippine Sea and has started bolstering its presence in the region by building islands on its illegally occupied reefs and shoals.

Laude, J. (2015, November 7). 'Sea dispute should be an election issue'. The Philippine Star, p. A9.