Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio has been at the forefront of calls for President Rodrigo Duterte to clarify his stance on the West Philippine Sea, a disputed territory in the South China Sea. In response to Palasyo’s challenge, Carpio emphasized that he will only file a complaint if he witnesses clear violations of the Constitution by Duterte’s pronouncements. As an expert in international law, Carpio has been a vocal critic of Duterte’s handling of the West Philippine Sea issue, and his stance has sparked debate among legal experts and politicians alike.
Carpio’s assertion that Duterte’s actions may be unconstitutional is based on his interpretation of the Supreme Court’s 2016 ruling in the West Philippine Sea case. In this landmark decision, the high court declared that the Philippines has sovereignty over parts of the South China Sea. Carpio believes that Duterte’s pronouncements, which appeared to contradict this ruling, could undermine the country’s claim and expose it to international ridicule.
While some have accused Carpio of being overly critical of Duterte, others see him as a champion of Philippine sovereignty. As a renowned expert in international law, Carpio’s views carry significant weight, and his stance on the West Philippine Sea issue has far-reaching implications for the country’s foreign policy.