MANILA, Philippines — Senator Rodante Marcoleta has welcomed the offer of the Philippine Bar Association (PBA) to host what it described as a “useful and meaningful” public debate with retired Supreme Court senior associate justice Antonio Carpio on the West Philippine Sea (WPS) issue.
The PBA, the country’s oldest association of lawyers, earlier said it is prepared to facilitate the debate following Carpio’s formal acceptance of Marcoleta’s challenge. The group, through its president Rachel Aileen Santos, said the debate could help inform the public, particularly young Filipinos, about the 2016 Arbitral Award and developments in the West Philippine Sea.
The association also expressed openness to media coverage and said it intends to meet with both parties first to agree on the guidelines for the debate.
‘No restrictions’
Marcoleta cautioned against limiting the scope of the discussion.
“As for their promise that it will be beneficial and meaningful to our citizens, I will not deny that,” he said in Filipino. “But they have not made any statement regarding the restriction or limitation first stated by Justice Carpio. If you limit it, it might not be beneficial and meaningful.”
The senator said he is prepared to take the initiative in proposing a broader framework for the debate, which he believes would better serve the public interest.
“I want it to be meaningful. If they agree, I will make a proposition that I know, if accepted, will be really broad and more beneficial and meaningful to our citizens, especially the youth.”
