Lorenzana apologizes for saying Hague ruling was an ‘empty victory’

DEFENSE Secretary Delfin N. Lorenzana on Friday issued an apology to former foreign affairs secretary Albert F. del Rosario and Acting Supreme Court (SC) Chief Justice Antonio T. Carpio for saying that The Hague’s 2016 ruling favoring the Philippines in a maritime dispute with China is “an empty victory.”
Both gentlemen have his “highest regard for being true patriots” for spending “enormous efforts and time to vigorously and successfully argue our case” before the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA), Mr. Lorenzana said in an apology statement.
“I sincerely apologize to these two great gentlemen for ruffling their feelings when I said that the PCA ruling in our favor is an empty victory. Both have reasons to be miffed for they worked hard to win our case before the PCA. It was not my intention to denigrate their achievement,” he said.
He clarified that his “empty victory” remark “does not pertain to the efforts of Mssrs. Carpio and del Rosario in successfully winning our case in the PCA but rather, to the outcome of the ruling.”
“With the realities on the ground, the victory being claimed is premature and incomplete since the ruling has no enforcement mechanism. How can victory be claimed over an arbitration case that proceeded even if the other party declined to participate, having stated from the beginning that it will not abide by the arbitration’s outcome? If it is a victory, then why is the West Philippines Sea (WPS) not under our complete control? If we are victorious, why are the Chinese still in the WPS?” Mr. Lorenzana said.
“Lest we forget, the Malaysians and Vietnamese are also within our exclusive economic zone (EEZ), occupying many islands which they have improved through the years. Until we regain complete control of our EEZ, and until the PCA ruling is fully enforced, it remains just a piece of paper. It pains me to say this but it is the fact. Not telling the people the real situation on the ground vis-a-vis the PCA ruling and pretending that it is a victory is grossly misleading, and gives our people false hopes,” he also explained. — Arjay L. Balinbin