With the United States and Asean’s affirmation of support for the four-year-old ruling of the United Nations (UN) arbitral tribunal, the Philippines should seize the initiative in “implementing” the decision, at the very least, by encouraging Filipinos to fish in Scarborough Shoal, and possibly drive away Chinese vessels that are loitering in the West Philippine Sea (WPS), especially in the waters within and surrounding the Pagasa Island. That’s the fearless advice of the former mayor of Palawan’s Kalayaan Island Group (KIG), the municipality where Pagasa belongs. The Scarborough Shoal near Zambales and other islands covered by China’s expansive claims in the South China Sea (SCS) are currently under a three-month fishing ban that had been unilaterally imposed by Beijing beginning May this year, while Chinese maritime militia vessels masquerading as fishing vessels are prowling the waters of the KIG.

Acosta, R. (2020, July 19). Testing the waters: Amid US and Asean’s affirmation of support for the UN arbitral tribunal ruling on disputed maritime territories, Duterte government prodded to seize the initiative. Business Mirror, pp. A1, A2.