Duterte vows to respect all treaties, international obligations

MANILA, Philippines - Ahead of the highly anticipated ruling of the United Nations High Tribunal on the arbitration case filed by the Philippines against China over maritime rows, President Duterte yesterday vowed to respect international treaties and obligations entered into by the Philippines.

“On the international front and community of nations, let me reiterate that the Republic of the Philippines will honor treaties and international obligations,” Duterte said in his inaugural speech.

He made the statement even as Chinese Ambassador Zhao Jianhua was among the dignitaries who attended his inauguration at the Rizal Hall of Malacañang.

On Wednesday, the Permanent Court of Arbitration at The Hague announced that it would issue its ruling on July 12, or two weeks after Duterte assumed his post.

Speaking before Davao City Hall employees last Monday, Duterte said he would like to keep mum on the maritime conflict with China.

“We will wait for the decision before we make any public statement,” he said. 

Both the Philippines and China are signatories to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

But China has repeatedly said that the court has no jurisdiction over the Philippines’ complaint and the body should not even issue a ruling on the matter.

Best wishes

Meanwhile, Archbishop Guiseppe Pinto, dean of the diplomatic corps, wished for the success of Duterte’s administration.

“The first word of a book is always the most important. It satisfies the curiosity of imagining its content and invites one to read it. But some books have empty pages and wait for words to be written, to be read with the unfolding of the events,” Pinto said before proposing a toast.

Pinto said that starting yesterday, Filipinos are called to “write on the blank pages of this book, engrave their aspirations and dreams, their convictions and ideas.”

Pinto said they were hoping that this will be the start of an even stronger friendship and collaboration between the Philippines and the government of the countries and international organizations they represent.

Duterte had said the inauguration was not about him but was meant to honor the Filipino people for their victory in making their thoughts known in the recent elections.

“To our friends and partners in the region and the world over, we look forward to your support as we continue to work together for peace, security and progress,” he said.