Marilyn Cahatol

Article (news)

Eon Sanchez

ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA — Government officials, members of the uniformed services, civil society groups, and the public gathered at the Quirino Grandstand on Sunday morning for the “National Peace Walk 2026” marking the 10th anniversary of the landmark <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/07/12/16/read-arbitral-courts-ruling-on-philippines-vs-china">2016 South China Sea Arbitral Award.</a></p><p>Despite a sudden downpour, participants pushed through with the walk around Quirino Grandstand while carrying miniature Philippine flags in a symbolic show of unity and support for the country’s maritime rights.</p><p>The event was led by Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr., National Security Adviser Eduardo Oban Jr., and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief of staff Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr.</p><p>In his remarks, Oban said, “Today, here in Manila and other parts of our country, Filipinos are walking together para sa karapatan ng ating bansa, na mamuhay nang payapa, makinabang sa sarili nitong mga karagatan, at magpasya sa sarili nitong kinabukasan nang malayo sa anumang pamumuwersa.”</p><p>Brawner said the heavy rain did not dampen the participants’ resolve.</p><p>“We walk together, naglakad tayo kahit na tayo ay basang sisiw habang naglalakad, but sometimes, the simplest acts carry the strongest messages,” he said.</p><p>“Thousands of footsteps. One direction, one purpose.”</p><p>He added that the 2016 ruling “affirmed our rightful mandate rights” and reminded the world that disputes “are not by force, but by law.”</p><div style="text-align:center"><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&amp;href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Freel%2F2663757844042136%2F&amp;show_text=false&amp;width=560&amp;t=0" width="560" height="314" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><br/></div><div><strong>TEODORO: THIS IS WHOLE-OF-COUNTRY APPROACH</strong></div><p>Teodoro said the government’s efforts extend beyond the West Philippine Sea.</p><p>“I think the strategy of the Philippines is going very well,” he said.</p><p>“Ang ating isipin lang is this is a struggle. This is not a military activity, this is a whole-of-country o full-nation approach.”</p><p>“Itong effort natin is not only sa West Philippine Sea but the full of our maritime domain … We have to resist China and the deterrence of China will take several other measures na kailangan gawin din natin,” he said.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/11/filipino-fishermen-see-no-victory-a-decade-after-landmark-south-china-sea-ruling-0758">Filipino fishermen see no victory, a decade after landmark South China Sea ruling</a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>OFFICIALS ADDRESS BATANES CLAIMS</strong></div><p>The defense chief also addressed recent reports on statements by Chinese scholars <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/9/china-symposium-sparks-concern-over-reported-batanes-claim-1617">claiming that Batanes belongs to China</a>, saying these should not be dismissed outright.</p><p>“This is not an official statement but in a closed society like China, with the 2017 National Security Law of China, any Chinese subject, any academic, who makes a statement in China, it becomes a quasi-state statement,” Teodoro said.</p><p>Asked whether the Philippines is preparing should China officially adopt such a claim, he replied: “Ang preparations natin ay preparations natin sa buong Pilipinas, hindi lamang sa West Philippine Sea, kundi sa Pacific Ocean boundary natin at saka kung sa Batanes, may claim sila baka pati Philippine Rise. So binibilisan natin ang effort.”</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/10/dfa-says-philippine-sovereignty-over-batanes-not-up-for-debate-1031">DFA: Philippine sovereignty over Batanes &#x27;not up for debate&#x27;; NHCP rejects Chinese claims</a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>TARRIELA CITES INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT</strong></div><p>Philippine Coast Guard spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Rear Admiral Jay Tarriela also criticized what he described as a disinformation campaign against the arbitral ruling.</p><p>“Kung makikita natin, as we get near itong July 12, parang lahat yata ng state-sponsored ng Chinese government na mga social media platforms, wala [na] silang ginawa kundi batikusin ang 2016 Arbitral Award … wala itong basehan,” he said.</p><div style="text-align:center"><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&amp;href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Freel%2F1026119453682326%2F&amp;show_text=false&amp;width=560&amp;t=0" width="560" height="314" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><br/></div><p>Tarriela said international support for the ruling continues to grow.</p><p>“But regardless of the noise of the Chinese government, of the Chinese Embassy, regardless of the pro-China trolls, para sakin, ang ebidensya natin ay yung recent lang na statement ng more than 13 countries na inilabas ng Department of Foreign Affairs na nagsasabing 2016 Arbitral Award is final and binding at ito ay naaayon sa United Nations Convention [on] the Law of the Sea,” he said.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/12/ph-13-countries-reaffirm-2016-arbitral-award-on-its-10th-year-0841">PH, 13 countries reaffirm 2016 arbitral award on its 10th year</a></div><p>On the reported claims by Chinese scholars over Batanes, Tarriela said, “Para sa akin, wala namang freedom of speech sa Chinese government. Ibig sabihin, lahat ng napapabalita dito, sanctioned ng gobyerno nila. So we should not ignore itong mga sinasabi ng Chinese academics na ito na ang Batanes ay sa kanila.”</p><p>He added that while he does not believe China is preparing to seize Batanes, such narratives should not go unanswered.</p><p>“I don’t think na there’s already a plan pero ang ginagawa kasi ng China, kung hindi mo yan sasagutin, kung hindi tayo mag-iingay sa mga ganitong claims nila, saka sila magpupunta sa step two,” he said.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>WHAT THE ARBITRAL AWARD MEANS</strong></div><p>The Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague ruled on July 12, 2016 that China’s sweeping “nine-dash line” claim had no legal basis under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.</p><p>The tribunal also affirmed the Philippines’ sovereign rights within its exclusive economic zone, including areas in the West Philippine Sea. China has consistently rejected the ruling and continues to assert its claims.</p><p>The peace walk came days after reports on statements made by Chinese scholars claiming Batanes belongs to China through Taiwan. Philippine officials have rejected the assertion, with the Department of Foreign Affairs saying the country’s sovereignty over Batanes is “settled and not up for debate.”</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div style="text-align:center"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/CE2RHYbJ9M0?si=FmtGpoB_-4igy-FF" title="YouTube video player" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>

<p>Government officials, members of the uniformed services, civil society groups, and the public gathered at the Quirino Grandstand on Sunday morning for the “National Peace Walk 2026” marking the 10th anniversary of the landmark <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/07/12/16/read-arbitral-courts-ruling-on-philippines-vs-china">2016 South China Sea Arbitral Award.</a></p>

Government officials, members of the uniformed services, civil society groups, and the public gathered at the Quirino Grandstand on Sunday morning for the “National Peace Walk 2026” marking the 10th anniversary of the landmark 2016 South China Sea Arbitral Award.

'WPS, tagumpay natin ito': Peace walk held in Manila to mark 10th anniversary of arbitral award

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'WPS, tagumpay natin ito': Peace walk held in Manila to mark 10th anniversary of arbitral award

Eon Sanchez,

ABS-CBN News

Published July 12, 2026 03:05 PM PHT

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West Philippine Sea

UNCLOS

Manila

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