Getting gas from Reed Bank a 'litmus test' for Marcos Jr: ex-SC justice Carpio

ABS-CBN News

MANILA — Approving oil exploration in the Reed (Recto) Bank would test President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.&#x27;s resolve to <a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/02/18/23/ph-wont-lose-1-inch-of-its-territory-marcos-jr-reiterates">defend the country&#x27;s territory</a>, former Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio said Wednesday.Speaking to ANC, Carpio said he was &quot;surprised&quot; that Marcos has adopted a policy to assert the 2016 arbitral award and not give up any part of the country&#x27;s territory. But the &quot;litmus test&quot; for Marcos, he said, is: &quot;Can we get the gas in Reed Bank?&quot; The Arroyo administration approved a joint exploration deal among Philippine, Chinese and Vietnamese firms in the South China Sea in 2005, which the Supreme Court ruled in January was <a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/01/10/23/sc-voids-2005-joint-exploration-deal-with-china-vietnam">unconstitutional</a>.<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="Malampaya Shallow Water Platform. Handout photo" src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2018/news/09/04/09042018-malampaya-handout.jpg"/><figcaption>Malampaya Shallow Water Platform. Handout photo</figcaption></figure></div>The Philippines and China also in March hinted at <a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/business/03/30/23/ph-china-to-have-preliminary-talks-on-possible-oil-venture">preliminary talks</a> on a possible joint venture in oil. The Duterte administration held similar discussions with China but abandoned them because of limitations set by the Constitution.<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/06/23/22/locsin-ph-pulled-out-of-oil-gas-talks-with-china">Locsin: PH pulled out of oil, gas talks with China</a></li></ul> Carpio has repeatedly warned that it is urgent that the Philippines extract fuel from the Reed Bank — said to be rich in oil and gas deposits — to avert possible devastating effects on the economy.<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/business/12/01/22/marcos-ph-needs-to-find-ways-for-oil-exploration-despite-china-roadblock">Marcos: Philippines needs to find ways for oil exploration despite China dispute &#x27;roadblock&#x27;</a></li>	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/08/15/23/carpio-urgent-task-for-ph-is-to-get-gas-in-reed-bank">Carpio renews call for PH gov&#x27;t to begin Reed Bank oil exploration</a></li></ul>He pointed out that the Malampaya gas field — which supplies 40 percent of the energy requirement of Luzon — is running out. Without gas supply from Malampaya and Reed Bank, the Philippines might be forced to import more, which he said is &quot;very expensive.&quot;<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/business/10/21/14/natural-gas-supply-malampaya-last-until-2024">Natural gas supply at Malampaya to last until 2024</a></li></ul><div>CARPIO: MALAYSIA, INDONESIA HAVE DONE IT</div>Reed Bank, also known as Recto Bank, is within the Philippines&#x27; exclusive economic zone located northwest of Palawan.In the interview, Carpio said the country&#x27;s neighbors such as Malaysia and Indonesia were able to conduct oil exploration within their exclusive economic zones despite &quot;threats of war&quot; from China, which claims almost the entire South China Sea and disregards Manila&#x27;s arbitral victory.<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/07/12/23/philippines-marks-7-years-since-arbitral-win-over-china">Philippines marks 7th anniversary of arbitral victory over China</a></li></ul>&quot;It takes four years to develop Reed Bank, and Malampaya is running out of gas already. It used to supply our three largest gas-fired plants,&quot; he said.&quot;Now it&#x27;s supplying only two. And maybe at the end of this year only one. So we really have to make a move now.&quot;<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/business/10/19/20/oil-exploration-in-west-ph-sea-an-exercise-of-sovereign-rights-energy-chief">Oil exploration in West PH Sea &#x27;an exercise of sovereign rights&#x27; - Energy chief</a></li></ul>

Approving oil exploration in Reed Bank would test President Marcos' resolve to defend the country's territory, former SC Associate Justice Antonio Carpio said.

Getting gas from Reed Bank a 'litmus test' for Marcos Jr: ex-SC justice Carpio | ABS-CBN

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Getting gas from Reed Bank a 'litmus test' for Marcos Jr: ex-SC justice Carpio

Getting gas from Reed Bank a 'litmus test' for Marcos Jr: ex-SC justice Carpio

ABS-CBN News

Published Dec 13, 2023 12:46 PM PHT

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Antonio Carpio

West Philippine Sea

South China Sea

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