A leading role for the Philippines

What sensible Filipino will object to President Duterte’s stated general policy of pursuing peace amid the South China Sea row?

In support of this policy, we in PAFI laud the President’ s decision not to join the US freedom of navigation operation patrols. Freedom of navigation as maintained by PAFI’s legal counsel Alberto Encomienda is not an issue in the South China Sea. It does not figure in the Philippines’ submission to the Arbitration Panel and in the latter’s ruling.