‘Take a stand, don’t be bullied’
Salvador Panelo once again exhibits with legal flourish that sleight of hand which does not succeed in hiding a moral vacuum.
“Arbitration is useless unless claimant countries unite against China” presumes an equation of might with right, and a right which is subservient to expediency.
We know, though, that when might prevails without right, it achieves a hollow victory.
Moreover, it is possible to take a stand without depending on a chorus of approval (although the Philippines received just that from The Hague tribunal).
A principled stand comes from deliberate choice. Let us not allow ourselves to be bullied into a helpless state of mind.
We are, after all, born with backbone. Singapore demonstrated this, and gained global respect.
VIRGINIA CALPOTURA, RSCJ,
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