Cebu City’s move to institutionalize the commemoration of the Philippines’ arbitral victory in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) has received support from the Department of National Defense (DND), placing the local initiative at the center of a renewed diplomatic tension with China.
Defense Secretary Gilbert “Gibo” Teodoro Jr. commended the Cebu City Council after it unanimously approved a resolution declaring July 12 of every year as “West Philippine Sea Victory Day.”
Teodoro described the 2016 arbitral ruling as a historic win for the Philippines that must be continuously recognized and defended.
“We laud the Cebu City Council’s unanimous approval of a resolution declaring July 12 of every year as ‘West Philippine Sea Victory Day.’ The 2016 Arbitral Award was indeed a victory which our country should embrace and fight to enforce,” Teodoro said in a statement released by the DND on June 29, 2026.
“Mabuhay po kayo. Hindi tayo magpapasisiil (Long live. We shall not allow ourselves to be oppressed).”
The defense chief’s statement came days after the Chinese Consulate General in Cebu expressed opposition to the city’s resolution, escalating diplomatic friction surrounding the local observance.
The Cebu City Council earlier approved the measure authored by Councilor Pablo Labra III, which also urges Congress to consider making the commemoration a nationwide observance.
The proposed annual event coincides with the 10th anniversary of the July 12, 2016 ruling of the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, which ruled in favor of the Philippines.
The tribunal invalidated China’s expansive “nine-dash line” claim over the South China Sea and affirmed Manila’s sovereign rights within its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), which the Philippines refers to as the West Philippine Sea.
While the ruling has no enforcement mechanism, it remains a key legal basis for the Philippines in asserting maritime rights under international law.
City officials said the resolution seeks to promote public awareness of the arbitral award, strengthen civic education on maritime rights, and encourage patriotism among residents.
However, the initiative drew a strong response from the Chinese Consulate General in Cebu, which sent a diplomatic note expressing its opposition to the resolution.
The consulate reiterated Beijing’s position, rejecting the arbitral ruling and describing it as “illegal, null, and void.”
It also argued that the arbitration process improperly addressed issues of sovereignty and maritime jurisdiction.
Despite the objection, the Cebu City declaration adds to a growing number of local initiatives in the Philippines aimed at marking July 12 as a day of national significance, with supporters saying it reinforces awareness of international law and the country’s maritime claims.
Photo courtesy of ABS-CBN
Comments