03 July 2015 – The Philippines is set to argue its case before the Arbitral Tribunal in the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, Netherlands on July 07-13. The hearings will address the issue of the Arbitral Tribunal’s jurisdiction over the case.

Solicitor General Florin T. Hilbay, as agent of the Philippines, together with the counsels from the Washington, D.C.-based law firm Foley and Hoag, headed by Mr. Paul Reichler, will present the country’s position.

The Philippine delegation will be composed of Solicitor General Hilbay and Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert F. del Rosario, as well as officials from the Solicitor General’s office and the Department of Foreign Affairs. They will be joined by high-ranking officials from the Executive, Legislative, and Judicial departments.

If the tribunal decides that it has jurisdiction over the case, the Philippines will be asked at a future date to present its oral arguments on the merits of the case. END