MANILA — Former Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonio Carpio on Monday urged the Philippine government to file a case against China for its alleged marine destruction in Escoda (Sabina) Shoal.

On Saturday, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said it had discovered crushed corals allegedly dumped by Chinese ships in Escoda Shoal in a supposed new reclamation attempt by Beijing.

Similar findings were seen by the PCG at Escoda last September after monitoring dozens of Chinese maritime militia vessels at the shoal and Rozul Reef.

PCG: Escoda Shoal in sorry state after coral dumping for reclamation attempt

"We should file a case now, the DOJ (Department of Justice) has been preparing a case against China precisely for the damage to the marine environment in Escoda Shoal and Rozul Reef," Carpio told ANC.

"We should file that to give attention, to focus this illegal island building by China, [and] put this on the world agenda," he said.

READ: Gov't urged: Build wharf, send troops to Sabina Shoal vs China's 'quiet encirclement'

The Philippines in 2016 won against China in an arbitral ruling by the international court in The Hague, which invalidated Beijing's 9-dash line that claimed 90 percent of the South China Sea, including the West Philippine Sea.

China has refused to acknowledge that ruling and insisted on its vast claims on the disputed waterway. 

Carpio said the alleged reclamation attempt in Escoda Shoal could be a "precursor of an island building by China" and putting up an outpost near Reed Bank, which is said to be rich in oil and gas deposits.

"If they succeed in putting up an outpost near Reed Bank, that would be giving us more difficulty in getting the gas in Reed Bank," he said.

Carpio has been calling on the government to urgently begin oil exploration in Reed Bank to save the country from what he called "devastating" effects on the economy of the drying up of the Malampaya gas field.

Carpio also suggested that the Coast Guard have a permanent presence in Escoda Shoal to prevent China from building artificial islands there.

"If we have a 24-hour presence there every day I don't think they can put up their artificial island. We can station continuously our coast guard in that area and I don't think they can create anything because we will be there," he said.

"We also have to ask our allies to jointly patrol with us near Reed Bank near Escoda Shoal and Rozul Reef because Rozul Reef and Sabina Shoal are the 2 nearest geologic features that China could create an artificial island to prevent us from developing Reed Bank," he added. 

READ: China's alleged reclamation attempt in Escoda Shoal a security threat — analyst

RELATED VIDEO: