The Philippine Supreme Court has issued an order
directing the government to "protect, preserve, rehabilitate and to
restore" the marine environment in three areas the country claims in
the disputed South China Sea.
The writ of kalikasan (nature) issued Friday covers Scarborough
Shoal, Second Thomas Shoal and Mischief Reef.
The order was prompted by a petition filed by environmental activists
and fishermen alleging the Philippine government has failed to act
against Chinese incursions and destructive activities in the three
areas.
"The Supreme Court, in a special en banc session held on Friday,
issued a writ of kalikasan to protect, preserve, rehabilitate, and to
restore the marine environment in Scarborough Shoal (also known as
Panatag Shoal), Ayungin Shoal, and Panganiban Reef (also known as
Mischief Reef)," a court statement said.
Among the government agencies named in the directive were the
Department of Environment and Natural Resource, the Department of
Agriculture, the Philipine Navy, the Coast Guard, the national police
and the Department of Justice.
There was no immediate reaction from the government on the order.
China claims almost the entire South China Sea, a key shipping lane
believed to be rich in marine and mineral resources. Other claimants
are the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan.
In 2016, an international tribunal in the Hague ruled that Beijing
has no legal or historical basis for its so-called "nine-dash line,"
which demarcates its claims to almost the entire South China Sea.
The alleged on-going land reclamation of China at Subi reef is seen from Pagasa Island (Thitu Island) in the Spratlys group of islands in the South China Sea, west of Palawan, Philippines. File picture- May 11, 2015