Former Justice Antonio T. Carpio gestures as he speaks during a forum at the Kapihan sa Manila Hotel in Manila on March 6, 2024. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News

Former Justice Antonio T. Carpio

Rowegie Abanto

ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA — Former Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonio Carpio on Wednesday said that the Philippines does not need China&#x27;s permission to explore oil in the West Philippine Sea.</p><p>Carpio <a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/08/15/23/carpio-urgent-task-for-ph-is-to-get-gas-in-reed-bank">has long advocated for oil exploration in the country&#x27;s exclusive economic zone</a>, saying Manila&#x27;s neighboring countries such as Malaysia and Indonesia have successfully done it.</p><p>He has repeatedly called on the government to begin extracting gas in Reed Bank in the West Philippine Sea to avert possible damaging effects on the economy of the drying up of the Malampaya gas field.</p><p>Speaking on ANC, Carpio said service contractor Forum Energy is prepared to send its survey and drill ship to Reed Bank &quot;if they have the protection.&quot;</p><p>He suggested that the Philippine Navy conduct a joint patrol with the US or other allies to accompany the survey ship to Reed Bank, saying &quot;<span id="isPasted" style="color:rgb(65, 65, 65);letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:left;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;white-space:normal;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial;display:inline !important;float:none">that&#x27;s exactly what Malaysia and Indonesia did.&quot;</span></p><p>&quot;Send your survey ship, don&#x27;t delay,&quot; Carpio said.</p><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/67kk-J2rXD0?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div><p>In March 2023, the Marcos administration and China hinted at preliminary talks on a possible oil joint venture. </p><p>When asked if the Philippines should continue negotiations with China over oil drilling in Reed Bank, Carpio said, &quot;<span id="isPasted" style="color:rgb(65, 65, 65);letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:left;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;white-space:normal;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial;display:inline !important;float:none">We should keep on talking &#x27;cause you don&#x27;t lose anything.&quot;</span></p><p>The Duterte administration conducted similar discussions with Beijing but abandoned them because of constitutional limitations.</p><p>Reed Bank, also known as Recto Bank, is within the Philippines&#x27; exclusive economic zone northwest of Palawan and is believed to be rich in oil and gas deposits.</p><p>Reed Bank could hold up to 5.4 billion barrels of oil and 55.1 trillion cubic feet of natural gas, according to a 2013 report from the United States Energy Information Administration.</p><div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/video/news/12/13/23/getting-gas-from-reed-bank-a-litmus-test-for-marcos-carpio" id="isPasted">Getting gas from Reed Bank a &#x27;litmus test&#x27; for Marcos Jr: ex-SC justice Carpio</a></div><div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/business/2024/2/14/senator-wants-constitutional-restriction-on-oil-exploration-lifted-1310" id="isPasted">Senator wants constitutional restriction on oil exploration lifted</a></div>

<p>Former Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonio Carpio on Wednesday said that the Philippines does not need China's permission to explore oil in the West Philippine Sea.</p>

Former Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonio Carpio on Wednesday said that the Philippines does not need China's permission to explore oil in the West Philippine Sea.

Carpio: No need for China's permission to explore oil in West PH Sea | ABS-CBN

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Carpio: No need for China's permission to explore oil in West PH Sea

Carpio: No need for China's permission to explore oil in West PH Sea

Rowegie Abanto,

ABS-CBN News

Published Apr 03, 2024 02:27 PM PHT

|

Updated Apr 03, 2024 07:44 PM PHT

Read More:

West Philippine Sea

South China Sea

Antonio Carpio

ANC promo

oil exploration

Reed Bank

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