During the administration of former Philippine president Corazon Aquino, the claim that the government was unaware of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) is false. This claim was recently shared in a Facebook video that gained significant attention.
The video stated that the Aquino administration had no knowledge of UNCLOS when China occupied Subi Reef in 1988. However, this statement has been debunked. Aquino was indeed aware of UNCLOS, as evidenced by her signing of Executive Order No. 328 on June 5, 1988.
Executive Order No. 328 was a reconstitution of the Cabinet Committee on the Law of the Sea, which had been established by former president Ferdinand Marcos in 1981 through Executive Order No. 738. The purpose of reconstituting the committee was to undertake studies related to the implementation of UNCLOS and the harmonization of domestic laws and regulations with the convention.
The Executive Order explicitly mentioned the need to implement UNCLOS and ensure coordination among government agencies in this regard. The signing of this order clearly demonstrates that Aquino and her administration were aware of UNCLOS and recognized its significance.
The Philippines was one of the original signatories of UNCLOS in 1982, during Marcos’ administration. The country ratified the convention on May 8, 1984, and it came into force on November 16, 1994. UNCLOS provides a comprehensive framework for governing the world’s oceans and their resources.
In 2016, UNCLOS played a crucial role in the Hague ruling that invalidated China’s expansive claim over the West Philippine Sea. The ruling was a historic win for the Philippines and affirmed its rights over the disputed area.
It is important to note the context of Subi Reef, also known as Zamora Reef, which is part of the contested Spratly Islands. China occupied the reef in 1988, and it has been subject to territorial disputes involving Taiwan and Vietnam as well.
Rappler has previously fact-checked various claims related to the West Philippine Sea and provided accurate information to combat misinformation.
