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On the plan to pass a baselines law, the stand of
Sen. Aquilino Pimentel Jr. is correct. Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago
is wrong. Congress should pass the law pronto even if it would mean
incurring the ire of other countries or the United Nations.
We are considering is a municipal
law. It is an assertion of our sovereignty over a territory. In the
process of drafting that law, we will consult the experts in
international law. We will try to look at the provisions of the
United Nations on the Law of the Sea. But we cannot be
prevented—or delayed—from passing that law.
Other countries do the same.
Example: The National People’s Congress of the People’s Republic
of China has passed a municipal law on its territory which was not
based on the Law of the Sea. There was firestorm of protest over
that move. But the Chinese were undaunted. Their own map includes
the Spratlys and the Scarborough Shoal which is part of Masinloc,
Zambales. Did the Chinese consult the UN? No, they did not.
Israel has its own law on
national territory. Did it consult the United Nations before
publishing its map or occupying the contested areas of the West
Bank? Of course not. An Israeli diplomat told me some years back
that if a country allows the UN to tie its hands, that’s the end
of that country.
We are not suggesting some form
of extremism here. We are for the rule of law among nations. But on
the matter of making maps, we can go ahead drawing our national
territories and announcing the scope of our borders to the world.
There is nothing wrong with that. Hindi tayo nag-iisa.
If we wait for the United Nations
to approve our proposed map, that would take years. And suppose the
United Nations disagree with our opinion and our map? When that
happens, we can never have a law on national territory. As of the
moment, all we have is the Treaty of Paris which only allows a sea
territory of 12 miles from our shores.
Let us assume that we include the
Spratlys in a Philippine map. Will China protest? Of course it will!
So what? In the relations among nations, protests are natural. We
can take note of those protests, but normal relations will remain.
After drawing our map, we start discussions with our neighbors and
the international community to delineate our borders. That’s how
reasonable states behave.
Senator Pimentel is correct in
calling for a quick discussion of the baselines bill. Let us not
anticipate the moves of the United Nations or China. Let us go ahead
with our mandate to draw our own map and let us correct the details
later. Having a map ready means that we are prepared to talk with
those who disagree with us.
This idea of a commission of
experts to study the baselines bill is one way of delaying the bill.
The real experts in this country are the members of the legislature
who will study the bill and consult the people on what is really our
national territory.
In our map, we can include the
Kalayaan Islands in our proposed national territory even if the
Chinese have claimed the place as their own. We have actual
possession of Kalayaan as we have a barangay there. We don’t have
to classify Kalayaan as a “regime of islands.” A regime of
islands, a proposal by the Department of Foreign Affairs, implies
that we are only claiming it. It is already ours.
Bataan nuclear plant
In 1986, just after the EDSA
People Power, the majority opinion was that the Bataan nuclear plant
should be closed. Today, the government is studying the plan to
reopen it.
Two reasons were advanced when
the plant was closed during former President Aquino’s time. First,
that it was unsafe and second, that it was based on corruption. But
the energy problems of today seem to be bigger than those two
previous reasons, and so, the review of the policy.
“We intend to revisit this
particular option,” said Energy chief Angelo Reyes,” speaking at
the Kapihan sa Sulo on Saturday. Reyes complained that the
government spent billions of pesos to build the plant. But it failed
to generate even a kilowatt of electricity.
We should expect an intense
debate on this plan by government. Already, nongovernment
organizations have expressed their opposition to the Reyes
announcement. But economist Butch Valdez, a staunch advocate of
nuclear energy, told me that he is for the opening of the plant.
Butch is ready to debate.
BRIEF NOTES. Senate President
Manny Villar, speaking to journalists over the weekend, said that
the matter of his vice presidential partner is no problem. His
political coalition, led by the Nacionalista Party, is set to choose
the VP . . . The death through gunshot on Tuesday of Atty. Sunshine
Mortel Mallen of Odiongan, Romblon and her husband Benjie Mallen of
Romblon, Romblon, is really tragic. My condolences.
julius42na@yahoo.com
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