Philippines reaffirms upholding rule of law, settlement of disputes

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines, through the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), reaffirmed its commitment yesterday to upholding the rule of law by maintaining its active participation in international fora and organizations like the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA).

Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo, speaking at a lecture of The Hague Academy of International Law (THAIL) secretary-general Jean-Marc Thouvenin in Manila, underscored the importance of peaceful settlement of disputes among the nations of the world.

“As the Philippines remains fully committed to upholding the rule of law, the Department of Foreign Affairs is even more resolute in maintaining our country’s active engagement with, and representation in, international legal forums and organizations,” he said.

“With such efforts and in cooperation with partners and friends in the international community including The Hague Academy, we fulfill our duty to advance a robust and credible international legal regime that promotes and guards the flourishing of just, equitable and prosperous societies,” he added.

Manalo said the Philippines is hosting an ongoing two-week course on international law for members of the Philippine judiciary and other government agencies which is a collaboration among THAIL, the Philippine Judicial Academy and the Philippine embassy in the Netherlands.

“This manifests such commitment as it marks a new beginning in the Philippines’ cooperation with The Hague Academy,” he declared as he recalled how the first global mechanism to settle international disputes was established with the creation of the PCA 125 years ago.

He shared that in commemoration of this milestone, the Philippines, together with Australia, Egypt, Guatemala, Hungary and Thailand, worked with the PCA on a United Nations Resolution that recognized its importance in upholding the peaceful settlement of disputes, and encouraged UN member-states to make use of PCA’s services in arbitration, conciliation, mediation, commissions of inquiry and other means of peaceful settlement of disputes.

Manalo said UN Resolution 77/322 on the Commemoration of the 125th Anniversary of the PCA was adopted by consensus