Arbitration court chief eyes host country deal with Philippines

MANILA, Philippines —  The chief of the inter-governmental body tasked as record keeper of the proceedings of the landmark arbitral ruling on the South China Sea yesterday expressed interest in forging a deal that would allow the Philippines to host its hearings.

Marcin Czepelak, secretary general of the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA), mentioned a possible host country agreement with the Philippines during his courtesy call on President Marcos at Malacañang.

“Czepelak expressed interest in exploring the potential for establishing a host country agreement with the Philippines to facilitate PCA hearings within the nation,” the Presidential Communications Office said in a statement.

“His (Czepelak) visit offers a valuable opportunity to highlight the Philippines’ commitment to international law, peaceful dispute resolution, and the PCA,” the PCO added.

The PCA was an offshoot of the 1899 The Hague Convention on the Pacific Settlement of International Disputes. The body has 121 member states.

In 2013, the tribunal on the South China Sea arbitration designated the PCA to serve as registry for the proceedings. The PCA was tasked to maintain an archive of the arbitral proceedings and provide appropriate registry services as directed by the arbitral tribunal, including assisting in the identification and appointment of experts, publishing information about the arbitration, and issuing press releases and organizing hearings.

In 2016, the arbitral tribunal ruled that China’s maritime claim in the South China Sea has no legal basis. The court also affirmed the Philippines’ sovereign rights over its 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone. China does nor recognize the ruling, describing it as “illegal” and downplaying it as “a mere piece of paper.”

The PCA has been forging host country agreements with contracting parties to make its dispute resolution services more accessible. Such an agreement creates a legal framework under which future proceedings administered by the PCA can be conducted in the host country without the need for a permanent physical PCA presence in that territory.

Marcos assured Czepelak that the Philippines would continue to adhere to