MIRIAM: HOUSE BASELINES BILL “FATALLY FLAWED”
Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago, chair of the Senate foreign relations committee, said that the House version of the baselines bill is “fatally flawed” and “a potential diplomatic disaster.” 
Santiago criticized the House version which includes the Spratlys and Scarborough Shoal inside the Philippine archipelagic baselines, “because it violates the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (Unclos).” By contrast, the Senate version which Santiago sponsored claims the two, but places both, under the “regime of islands” principle, which is allowed by the Unclos.
Under Unclos, an archipelago is allowed to draw straight baselines from the outermost points of the outermost islands, provided that the baselines adhere to the natural configuration of the archipelago.
Santiago also said that it is “futile” to include the Spratlys inside the archipelagic baseline, because many of the Spratly islands are already occupied by several Southeast Asian countries and China .
“It defies reality when a state claims sovereignty over islands which are in the physical possession of other states,” she said.
Santiago , who is suffering from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, declined to head the Senate panel to the bicameral conference committee, and instead endorsed Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile to head the panel.
“Since the House panel will be headed by no less than the Speaker, it is only appropriate that the Senate panel should be headed by the Senate President,” she said.
Santiago said that she had the “fullest confidence in the analytical judgments” of both Speaker Nograles and Senate President Enrile.
“It is really a very simple choice. We have to scale down without surrendering our territorial claims. The unacceptable choice is to claim as much territory as we want, alienate the rest of the international community, and operate as a pariah in international law,” she said.
Labels: baselines bill, foreign relations, House of Representatives
posted by MDS @ 10:37 AM
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I find social issues like politics entertaining, informative and beneficial. However, most of the Filipino people capable of breathing is in the unity of ignoring and avoiding it. Is the topic sickening or these people act this way out of ignorance? Let us take this factuality: most people from the United States and the European countries for instance take politics as a big talk of the town. People from these Countries take the subject as if it plays some major roles in the society and affects the life of the general public. What makes it a big twist in our country is that Filipinos act in contradiction of the first. I talk to this person and he would listen, at first he shows interest, in the long run of the conversation you will notice that the brain that you are speaking with in front of you says nothing and possibly knows nothing. He is just there pretending to listen, to show you he knows something or better not to embarass himself. But this is not to generalize the entire Filipino public, there are few who are of course really concern about the political issues of our country.
Politics is not just a mere component of ones life either of a nation. It's presence and existence represents the integrity of the entire Nation to the international community. It is highly essential in the government body, its laws are vital in the security of the people and it's stability boost the economic growth of the country. By these reasons, let us draw a conclusion that every citizen is a part of Politics and so, each plays an important role; therefore, it should not be taken as a mere part social issues, should not be ignored but to be taken as one of the most important factors in one's citizenship, a subtance where the governing body of the Philippines evolve.
I understand that there are reasons underlying the circumstances like this. Long time existence of extreme corruption in the country have drawn most of the Filipino people into the immunization of its venom. The nation already become impotent to produce positive political outlook. Even the young- whom long time ago considered to be the hope of this country, already surrendered thier hopes and live in the notion that there's nothing that can be done now. Admittedly, Philippines has been politically ill. I would say there has been no better government. They are all synchronized in the same crimes patterned differently. Political situation in this country is totally nauseating. The intensity goes to the point that even dogs on the street, if they are only capable, can attest to it.
This is the country where we belong, it's where we live and will possibly die. Yet, most of us keep on ignoring the point that politics is one of the major components of our state as well as an important part of our being. I am credulous to the thought that almost everyone else keep on leaving that reality behind. Is it out of ignorance or idiocracy? The answer is both. For when it comes to this matter, I am certain that there's two classification of minds. The one that lacks education - those who are unfortunate to avail the pleasure of knowing and understanding the facts of life. What brings idiocracy a valid reason is the fact that there are people who fully understand the situation but generous enough to admit that they don't care at all. "Why mind about politics when there are a lot of things that require my time? it's too complicated and I am not a politician." they say.
We need not to be a politician in order for us to have politics as part of our being. Politics is not complicated at all, it is just a matter of one's perception. As we can see Philippines has been struggling with a lot of problems. The economic situation of the country at this point has its root from the malfunction of our political system. Our government is now a frustration to everyone. With this in mind, why then most of us put politics aside? Logically speaking if one will totally detach himself from Philippine politics then I would say the country deserves to eradicate the person from the face of its history. As citizens we have a principal duty of promoting things such as better community, better governance and stable economic growth. That is a factual statement. Of course we aim for these things, a person that does not believe in this is not human at all. We dream of a better things to happen. Great! However, the question is, do these things: better community, justice, good nation image, stable economic growth can happen with a rotten economic system in placed? The answer is never.
Therefore, it all starts with the basic. If we want to grow as a better nation, if we want progress in this country the first thing to do is to know the political status of the country. That means everyone should not avoid it but rather imbibe learn and apply politics. After all, to do so is a part of our social responsibility.
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