An unmitigated setback for the Philippines

Setting aside the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) ruling on the Philippines’s territorial dispute with China in the South China Sea will be an unmitigated setback for our country and people.

Perhaps the Duterte officials concerned did not realize how foolhardy and irresponsible it is for the Duterte government to adopt such a policy, given the history of the dispute and the trials we went through to secure this favorable ruling.