Foreign Affairs exec to bring up govt’s Spratlys position with China

Saturday, July 2, 2011
FOREIGN Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario is expected to bring up the government’s position for a peaceful settlement on the territorial dispute over the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea) once he meets with his counterpart in Beijing next week.
“I think all parties to the tension in the West Philippines Sea have repeatedly said that they want to settle the matter diplomatically and peacefully, and even other claimant countries…” Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said Saturday.
“We’re hoping that the visit of Secretary Del Rosario will help in facilitating the diplomatic means of resolving these problems,” she added.
Although the schedule has not yet been finalized, Del Rosario said the visit is tentatively scheduled on July 7 until 9.
Last week, House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. and his colleagues went to China, and had the opportunity to reiterate the Philippines’ position over the dispute in the Spratlys group of islands.
“From my understanding, Chinese officials want a peaceful resolution of the disputed islands. But without the participation of countries, I supposed the United States, which has no claim in the controversial Spratlys,” Citizens Battle Against Corruption Representative Sherwin Tugna said.
“This is only my personal view as part of the delegation who met with Chinese officials,” he said.
Tugna visited the country from June 22 to June 28, along with Speaker Belmonte, Representatives Elpidio Barzaga (Cavite), Victor Ortega (La Union), Jose Zubiri III (Bukidnon), Victor Yu (Zamboanga del Sur) and Tomas Apacible (Batangas).
Death sentence on Filipina teacher
Meanwhile, the Palace assured assistance for the Filipina teacher – whose identity was not revealed – who was sentenced to death penalty for drug smuggling charges in China.
“We did the SOP (standard operating procedure) here, that the DFA immediately gets in touch with that person, supervise legal assistance and consular visits. We are taking care of these kinds of cases and there’s still an appeal and automatic review by the Higher Court so hopefully the review will see what’s right for the case,” Valte said.
The Philippine Consulate General in Guangzhou reported to the Department of Foreign Affairs that a Filipina teacher was convicted and was given a death penalty sentence with a two-year reprieve by the Municipal Intermediate People’s Court last week.
She was arrested for drug-smuggling in October 2010 at the international airport in Guangzhou for carrying 1,996 grams of heroin concealed in a foil packet hidden under her checked-in suitcase.
The said Filipino teacher had been working in China since 2006 and holds a legitimate alien employment permit.
Her case will be elevated to the Guangdong High People’s Court for automatic review.(Kathrina Alvarez/Sunnex)
Source: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/manila/local-news/2011/07/02/foreign-affairs-exec-bring-govts-spratlys-position-china-164605