Cheyenne Suarez

Almost a decade after tribunal ruling, another Aquino keeps fight for West PH Sea alive

Article (news)

Jervis Manahan

ABS-CBN News

MANILA -- Nearly a decade since the Philippine victory at the 2016 arbitral ruling, another Aquino is keeping the fight for the West Philippine Sea alive.Kiko Aquino Dee, nephew of former President Noynoy Aquino and Executive Director of the Ninoy &amp; Cory Aquino Foundation, joined the civilian mission for the first time.In an interview with ABS-CBN News aboard the ship, Aquino Dee said the late president Aquino would have been proud to see the mission.&quot;Yung spirit ni Tito Noy ay ramdam na ramdam ko ngayon, yung arbitral ruling is one of the great legacies of Tito Noy,&quot; he said.(I can feel Tito Noy&#x27;s spirit right now especially because the arbitral ruling is one of his greatest legacies.)<div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/5/27/2-chinese-coast-guard-vessels-sighted-from-atin-ito-civilian-mission-ship-send-radio-challenges-0945">READ: 2 Chinese Coast Guard vessels sighted from Atin Ito civilian mission ship</a></div>&quot;He would have been happy, he would be proud to see na ganito ang paraan ng paggiit ng ating karapatan sa exclusive economic zone natin,&quot; he added.(He would have been happy, he would be proud to see how we are fighting for our rights in our exclusive economic zone.)It was former President Noynoy Aquino&#x27;s administration who brought the case of the West PH Sea to the arbitration court, resulting in an astounding victory for the Philippines.The court invalidated the nine-dash line claims of China, and honored the sovereign rights of the Philippines in its exclusive economic zone.&quot;I think the very important thing is consistency. We&#x27;re trying to show na ano man ang kaya nating gawin sa lupain ng Pilipinas, kaya rin nating gawin sa ating EEZ,&quot; Aquino Dee said.(We&#x27;re trying to show that what we can do in our land, we can also do in our EEZ.)Some have referred to the Atin Ito civilian missions as &quot;People Power at Sea.&quot;

Nearly a decade since the Philippine victory at the 2016 arbitral ruling, another Aquino is keeping the fight for the West Philippine Sea alive.

Nearly a decade since the Philippine victory at the 2016 arbitral ruling, another Aquino is keeping the fight for the West Philippine Sea alive.