Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio has strongly reacted to President Rodrigo Duterte’s claim during his State of the Nation Address (SONA) that China is in possession of the West Philippine Sea. According to Carpio, Duterte’s statement is misleading and contradicts the ruling of the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) in 2016. The PCA ruled that China’s claims over most of the South China Sea, including the West Philippine Sea, are invalid. Carpio emphasized that the PCA decision is final and binding on all parties involved. He also noted that the Philippines has not surrendered its territory to China despite Duterte’s claim. The Supreme Court justice further stressed that the government should uphold the rule of law and respect the PCA ruling.