By Liezelle Soriano
Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla on Friday said the country will file an environmental case against China over violations in the West Philippine Sea early next year.
Remulla said that the agency would file the environmental case either in January or February 2024. Remulla assured the public that his agency would not stop pursuing the case once filed.
“Mabilis naman trabahuhin ito. Sana by January or February, at the latest March, mai-launch namin ‘yung kaso. Hindi namin titigilan, tatantanan ito,” Remulla said.
“We were encouraged to pursue what we thought— what we think is a good case to pursue in behalf not only of the Filipino people but the rest of humanity. Kasi ang apektado dito hindi lang naman ‘yung bansa natin. Actually, ang totoo rito, ang apektado dito ‘yung buong mundo,” he added.
Remulla said he earlier met with environmental lawyer Antonio Oposa Jr. and former Supreme Court Justice Francis Jardeleza.
Based on the “ample” evidence now available and the many more that scientists and other professionals hired for the project are likely to find, the justice secretary said he believes the Philippines has a solid case against China’s “innumerable and immeasurable” damage on Philippine environment like the controversial coral harvesting allegedly done by China in the WPS.