Lorenzana, nag-sorry kina Del Rosario at Carpio

Nilinaw kahapon ni Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana na ang sinabi niyang “empty victory” sa desisyon ng Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) sa The Hague kaugnay sa isyu sa West Philippine Sea sa China ay hindi tumutukoy sa mga pagsisikap nina dating Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Secretary Albert F. del Rosario at acting Supreme Court Chief Justice Antonio T. Carpio.

Sa kanyang Clarificatory Statement sa PCA ruling, sinabi ni Lorenzana na ang mga katagang “empty victory” ay walang kinalaman sa mga pagsisikap nina Carpio at del Rosario para mapanalunan ang kaso sa PCA, kundi sa naging bunga ng desisyon.

Sinabi ng defense chief na sina Del Rosario at Carpio ay kapwa nakapagsilbi at patuloy na nagsisilbi sa bansa nang buong puso at lubos ang paggalang niya sa mga ito.

“They have my highest regard for being true patriots having spent enormous efforts and time to vigorously and successfully argue our case before the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) in The Hague. For that, and among other things, we Filipinos owe them a lot,” ani Lorenzana.

“Personally, I have had the honor and privilege of working under then Ambassador del Rosario at the Philippine Embassy in Washington D.C. from 20022006. 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,” dugtong niya.

Gayunman, sinabi ni Lorenzana, na ang mga realidad ay premature at incomplete ang sinasabing tagumpay dahil walang enforcement mechanism ang hatol.

“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 WPS not under our complete control? If we are victorious, why are the Chinese still in the WPS?” ani Lorenzana.

“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,” dagdag niya.

Sinabi rin ni Lorenzana na kailangan ding maunawaan ng maraming mamamayan na ang PCA ruling ay tungkol sa “sovereign rights” at hindi “sovereignty,” na dalawang magkaibang bagay.