Retired Justice Antonio T. Carpio refutes Senator Marcoleta’s threat to file treason charges over the 2011 Magallona v. Ermita ruling, explaining that treason applies only in wartime and that the decision aligned Philippine law with UNCLOS and constitutional principles.
Senator Rodante Marcoleta has threatened to sue retired Justice Antonio T. Carpio for treason over a 2011 maritime baselines decision; Carpio counters that treason applies only in wartime and explains the legal basis of the baselines decision and its role in protecting Philippine maritime rights.
Retired Justice Antonio T. Carpio says Senator Marcoleta’s statements on the West Philippine Sea do not amount to treason in peacetime but may constitute disloyalty under the Code of Conduct for Government Employees, and suggests that any action must be initiated through a Senate ethics complaint.
Retired Justice Antonio T. Carpio accepts Senator Marcoleta’s invitation for a public discussion on the West Philippine Sea and the legal basis of the Philippines’ maritime rights, emphasizing established international law and sovereign entitlements.