A petition before the Supreme Court seeking to protect the marine environment in Scarborough (Panatag) Shoal, Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal and Panganiban (Mischief ) Reef in the South China (West Philippine) Sea is in danger of being dismissed. Solicitor General Jose Calida on Tuesday said the signatures of the Filipino fishermen who were affected by the encroachment of Chinese vessels were not authentic. During oral arguments before the tribunal, Calida noted that some of the alleged fishermen signed without their identification cards, some disowned the signatures, some signed but their signatures were still subject for verification and 19 of them withdrew from the case.

Canlas, J. (2019, July 10). Poaching case vs China in danger of dismissal. The Manila Times, p. A2.