By Benjamin Cuaresma
MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Monday reaffirmed the Philippines’ commitment to defending the landmark 2016 Arbitral Award on the West Philippine Sea, declaring that the government will continue to uphold the ruling through peaceful and lawful means.
In his fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA), Marcos said the final and binding arbitral decision remains a defining benchmark in the interpretation and application of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
“This is not a claim that we advance alone, nor is it one that we will abandon,” the President said, stressing that the Philippines will continue to protect its sovereign rights against any attempt—foreign or domestic—to undermine the ruling.
Marcos paid tribute to members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the Philippine Coast Guard, and Filipino fisherfolk who continue to patrol and work in the country’s maritime zones despite persistent risks and tensions.
He said their dedication gives practical meaning to the country’s assertion of its maritime rights and demonstrates the resolve of the Filipino people to defend national sovereignty.
The President concluded by calling on Filipinos to remain united in the face of internal and external challenges, emphasizing that national solidarity remains the country’s greatest strength.
“We are Filipinos, and we do not yield,” Marcos declared.
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