The Philippines is in a position to ensure that the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea will be consistent with international law, a US State Department official said.

Responding to the challenge of President Rodrigo Duterte, Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio enumerated ways to enforce the Philippines' arbitral victory without going to war.

Senior Associate Justice Carpio told reporters in a message: “The last time I checked, freedom of expression is still enshrined in our Constitution.”

The United States underscored the United Nations arbitral tribunal’s 2016 decision invalidating China’s nine-dash line claim in the South China Sea is “final” and “legally binding,” as Washington strongly opposed Beijing’s efforts to assert its “unlawful” maritime claims.

Enforcing the Philippines' arbitral win against China does not necessarily mean going to war with Beijing, Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio stressed.