Justice Secretary Leila De Lima 蜜桃工作室 FILE PHOTO
It was like taking a crash course in international law.
That鈥檚 how Justice Secretary Leila de Lima described the first round of oral arguments on the Philippines鈥� arbitration case against China before a UN arbitral court in The Hague on Tuesday.
De Lima praised the Philippine legal team for its handling of the opening arguments.
鈥淚t鈥檚 like attending a crash yet extensive course in international law on the sea and Unclos (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea), as the speakers painstakingly sift through the nuances of the convention vis-脿-vis jurisdictional objections,鈥� De Lima told the Inquirer by text message on Wednesday evening.
She lauded the Philippines鈥� 鈥渟terling team鈥� for ably laying down the country鈥檚 case before the tribunal to win a ruling for jurisdiction.
鈥淭he arguments being articulated and [that] continue to be articulated on the jurisdictional issues by a sterling team of advocates and external counsels have been very clear-cut, exhaustive and succinct,鈥� De Lima said.
She said observing the proceedings, held at the Permanent Court of Arbitration, 鈥渆vinces an indescribable feeling.鈥�
De Lima is part of the Philippine delegation to The Hague for the oral arguments.
The delegation is led by Solicitor General Florin Hilbay and includes Cabinet officials.
De Lima returned to Manila Thurs night, ahead of the rest of the delegation.
鈥淚 feel blessed to be part of a once-in-a-lifetime experience in the name of national pride and dignity as a people,鈥� she said.