Much has been said and argued about our rightful claim to the West Philippine Sea. If we based our claims under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (Unclos), the West Philippine Seas is part of our country’s exclusive economic zone, and defending this rightful maritime claim is Retired Supreme Court senior associate justice Antonio Carpio.

One of the leading experts in this field, Justice Carpio considers this his personal advocacy and has even made a video lecture on this entitled “Defending Sovereign Rights in the West Philippine Sea.”I

In an article published by Rappler on 5 July 2020, this lecture is now publicly available online and is made available for every Filipino to watch online through Access Online. Access Online is the first and only accredited provider of Online and On Demand MCLE in the Philippines. This lecture is part of a 2-unit course eligible for Mandatory Continuing Legal Education (MCLE) under the subjects International Law and International Convention.

Carpio said during an interview with Rappler, that he had taken up the task of defending the country’s rights in the West Philippine Sea after he penned the decision that upheld the constitutionality of Republic Act No. 9522 or the Baselines Law in 2011.

With China dipping in our rights, Carpio is adamant that it is Every Filipino’s duty to defend this PH territory and that the Philippines had a fighting chance against China if it asserted its rights in the West Philippine Sea in the legal arena. He presented his advocacy in a lecture sponsored by the Department of Foreign Affairs before think tanks and universities in 30 cities in 17 countries in 2015.

WATCH THE LECTURE HERE