MANILA, Nov. 24 (PNA) — Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario led 47 other representatives from the Philippines’ Executive, Legislative and Judicial branches who are now in The Hague for the first round of arguments on the merits of the sea row case the country filed against China before the Arbitral Tribunal at the Permanent Court of Arbitration.
Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte, in a statement, said the hearings are expected to begin Nov. 24 and last until Nov. 30, 2015.
She said Solicitor General Florin Hilbay and principal counsel Paul Reichler have briefed the Philippine delegation on the expected flow of the proceedings during the hearings and assured the team “that we are fully prepared to present our case to the Tribunal.”
She said 17 members of the delegation came from various Manila-based departments and these include Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio, Associate Justice and former Solicitor General Francis Jardeleza, Rep. Rodolfo Biazon, Chair of the Committee of National Defense and Security of the House of Representatives; Solicitor General Florin Hilbay, Political Affairs Secretary Ronald Llamas, Security Cluster Executive Director Emmanuel Bautista, and Deputy Executive Secretary Menardo Guevarra.
She added that six ambassadors stationed in European countries, led by Philippine Ambassador to the Netherlands Jaime Victor Ledda, along with counsel, advocates, expert witnesses, and support staff complete the delegation. (PNA)