Magallona Vs Ermita

SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED VOLUME 655 29/08/2019, 11)11 AM
G.R. No. 187167. August 16, 2011.*
PROF. MERLIN M. MAGALLONA, AKBAYAN PARTY-

LIST REP. RISA HONTIVEROS, PROF. HARRY C.
ROQUE, JR., AND UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES
COLLEGE OF LAW STUDENTS, ALITHEA BARBARA
ACAS, VOLTAIRE ALFERES, CZARINA MAY ALTEZ,
FRANCIS ALVIN ASILO, SHERYL BALOT, RUBY AMOR
BARRACA, JOSE JAVIER BAUTISTA, ROMINA
BERNARDO, VALERIE PAGASA BUENAVENTURA,
EDAN MARRI CAÑETE, VANN ALLEN DELA CRUZ,
RENE DELORINO, PAULYN MAY DUMAN, SHARON
ESCOTO, RODRIGO FAJARDO III, GIRLIE FERRER,
RAOULLE OSEN FERRER, CARLA REGINA GREPO,
ANNA MARIE CECILIA GO, IRISH KAY KALAW, MARY
ANN JOY LEE, MARIA LUISA MANALAYSAY, MIGUEL
RAFAEL MUSNGI, MICHAEL OCAMPO, JAKLYN
HANNA PINEDA, WILLIAM RAGAMAT, MARICAR
RAMOS, ENRIK FORT REVILLAS, JAMES MARK
TERRY RIDON, JOHANN FRANTZ RIVERA IV,
CHRISTIAN RIVERO, DIANNE MARIE ROA, NICHOLAS
SANTIZO, MELISSA CHRISTINA SANTOS, CRISTINE
MAE TABING, VANESSA ANNE TORNO, MARIA ESTER
VANGUARDIA, and MARCELINO VELOSO III,
petitioners, vs. HON. EDUARDO ERMITA, IN HIS
CAPACITY AS EXECUTIVE SECRETARY, HON.
ALBERTO ROMULO, IN HIS CAPACITY AS SECRETARY
OF THE DEPARTMENT OF
_______________
* EN BANC.
477
VOL. 655, AUGUST 16, 2011 477

Magallona vs. Ermita
FOREIGN AFFAIRS, HON. ROLANDO ANDAYA, IN HIS

CAPACITY AS SECRETARY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF
BUDGET AND MANAGEMENT, HON. DIONY
VENTURA, IN HIS CAPACITY AS ADMINISTRATOR OF
THE NATIONAL MAPPING & RESOURCE
INFORMATION AUTHORITY, and HON. HILARIO
DAVIDE, JR., IN HIS CAPACITY AS REPRESENTATIVE
OF THE PERMANENT MISSION OF THE REPUBLIC OF
THE PHILIPPINES TO THE UNITED NATIONS,
http://www.central.com.ph/sfsreader/session/0000016cdb56f393fed46dbe003600fb002c009e/p/ASN539/?username=Guest Page 1 of 44
respondents.
United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS

III); UNCLOS III has nothing to do with the acquisition or loss of
territory.·UNCLOS III has nothing to do with the acquisition (or
loss) of territory. It is a multilateral treaty regulating, among
others, sea-use rights over maritime zones (i.e., the territorial
waters [12 nautical miles from the baselines], contiguous zone [24
nautical miles from the baselines], exclusive economic zone [200
nautical miles from the baselines]), and continental shelves that
UNCLOS III delimits. UNCLOS III was the culmination of decades-
long negotiations among United Nations members to codify norms
regulating the conduct of States in the worldÊs oceans and
submarine areas, recognizing coastal and archipelagic StatesÊ
graduated authority over a limited span of waters and submarine
lands along their coasts.
Archipelagic Baselines of the Philippines (Republic Act No.
9522); Baselines laws such as RA 9522 are enacted by United
Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS III) States
parties to mark-out specific basepoints along their coasts from which
baselines are drawn, either straight or contoured, to serve as
geographic starting points to measure the breadth of the maritime
zones and continental shelf.·Baselines laws such as RA 9522 are
enacted by UNCLOS III States parties to mark-out specific
basepoints along their coasts from which baselines are drawn,
either straight or contoured, to serve as geographic starting points
to measure the breadth of the maritime zones and continental shelf.
Article 48 of UNCLOS III on archipelagic States like ours could not
be any clearer: Article 48. Measurement of the breadth of the
territorial sea, the contiguous zone, the exclusive economic zone and
the continental shelf.·The breadth of the territorial sea, the
contiguous zone, the exclusive economic zone and the continental
shelf shall be measured from archi-
478
478 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED
pelagic baselines drawn in accordance with article 47. (Emphasis

supplied)
Same; Baselines laws are nothing but statutory mechanisms for
United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS III)
States parties to delimit with precision the extent of their maritime
zones and continental shelves.·Baselines laws are nothing but
statutory mechanisms for UNCLOS III States parties to delimit
with precision the extent of their maritime zones and continental
shelves. In turn, this gives notice to the rest of the international
community of the scope of the maritime space and submarine areas
within which States parties exercise treaty-based rights, namely,
the exercise of sovereignty over territorial waters (Article 2), the
jurisdiction to enforce customs, fiscal, immigration, and sanitation

laws in the contiguous zone (Article 33), and the right to exploit the
living and non-living resources in the exclusive economic zone
(Article 56) and continental shelf (Article 77).
Same; RA 9522 increased the PhilippinesÊ total maritime space
by 145,216 square nautical miles.·PetitionersÊ assertion of loss of
„about 15,000 square nautical miles of territorial waters‰ under RA
9522 is similarly unfounded both in fact and law. On the contrary,
RA 9522, by optimizing the location of basepoints, increased the
PhilippinesÊ total maritime space (covering its internal waters,
territorial sea and exclusive economic zone) by 145,216 square
nautical miles.
III); CongressÊ decision to classify the Kalayaan Island Group (KIG)
and the Scarborough Shoal as ÂRegime[s] of IslandsÊ manifests the
Philippine StateÊs responsible observance of its pacta sunt servanda
obligation under UNCLOS III.·Far from surrendering the
PhilippinesÊ claim over the KIG and the Scarborough Shoal,
CongressÊ decision to classify the KIG and the Scarborough Shoal as
„ÂRegime[s] of IslandsÊ under the Republic of the Philippines
consistent with Article 121‰ of UNCLOS III manifests the
Philippine StateÊs responsible observance of its pacta sunt servanda
obligation under UNCLOS III. Under Article 121 of UNCLOS III,
any „naturally formed area of land, surrounded by water, which is
above water at high tide,‰ such as portions of the KIG, qualifies
under the category
479
VOL. 655, AUGUST 16, 2011 479
of „regime of islands,‰ whose islands generate their own applicable

maritime zones.
Same; The recognition of archipelagic StatesÊ archipelago and
the waters enclosed by their baselines as one cohesive entity prevents
the treatment of their islands as separate islands under UNCLOS
III.·The recognition of archipelagic StatesÊ archipelago and the
waters enclosed by their baselines as one cohesive entity prevents
the treatment of their islands as separate islands under UNCLOS
III. Separate islands generate their own maritime zones, placing
the waters between islands separated by more than 24 nautical
miles beyond the StatesÊ territorial sovereignty, subjecting these
waters to the rights of other States under UNCLOS III.
Same; United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea
(UNCLOS III) creates a sui generis maritime space·the exclusive
economic zone·in waters previously part of the high seas.·
UNCLOS III favors States with a long coastline like the
Philippines. UNCLOS III creates a sui generis maritime space·the
exclusive economic zone·in waters previously part of the high seas.
UNCLOS III grants new rights to coastal States to exclusively
exploit the resources found within this zone up to 200 nautical

miles. UNCLOS III, however, preserves the traditional freedom of
navigation of other States that attached to this zone beyond the
territorial sea before UNCLOS III.
Same; Absent an United Nations Convention on the Law of the
Sea (UNCLOS III) compliant baselines law, an archipelagic State
like the Philippines will find itself devoid of internationally
acceptable baselines from where the breadth of its maritime zones
and continental shelf is measured.·Absent an UNCLOS III
compliant baselines law, an archipelagic State like the Philippines
will find itself devoid of internationally acceptable baselines from
where the breadth of its maritime zones and continental shelf is
measured. This is recipe for a two-fronted disaster: first, it sends an
open invitation to the seafaring powers to freely enter and exploit
the resources in the waters and submarine areas around our
archipelago; and second, it weakens the countryÊs case in any
international dispute over Philippine maritime space. These are
consequences Congress wisely avoided.
480
Same; Archipelagic Baselines of the Philippines (Republic Act

No. 9522); The enactment of United Nations Convention on the Law
of the Sea (UNCLOS III) compliant baselines law for the Philippine
archipelago and adjacent areas, as embodied in RA 9522, allows an
internationally-recognized delimitation of the breadth of the
PhilippinesÊ maritime zones and continental shelf.·The enactment
of UNCLOS III compliant baselines law for the Philippine
archipelago and adjacent areas, as embodied in RA 9522, allows an
internationally-recognized delimitation of the breadth of the
PhilippinesÊ maritime zones and continental shelf. RA 9522 is
therefore a most vital step on the part of the Philippines in
safeguarding its maritime zones, consistent with the Constitution
and our national interest.
VELASCO, JR., J., Separate Concurring Opinion:
III); Archipelagic Baselines of the Philippines (Republic Act No.
9522)·View that by setting the baselines to conform to the
prescriptions of UNCLOS III, RA 9522 did not surrender any
territory for UNCLOS III is concerned with setting order in the
exercise of sea-use rights, not the acquisition or cession of territory.·
The baselines are set to define the sea limits of a state, be it coastal
or archipelagic, under the UNCLOS III regime. By setting the
baselines to conform to the prescriptions of UNCLOS III, RA 9522
did not surrender any territory, as petitioners would insist at every
turn, for UNCLOS III is concerned with setting order in the
exercise of sea-use rights, not the acquisition or cession of territory.
And let it be noted that under UNCLOS III, it is recognized that

countries can have territories outside their baselines. Far from
having a dismembering effect, then, RA 9522 has in a limited but
real sense increased the countryÊs maritime boundaries.
Same; View that the laying down of baselines is not a mode of
acquiring or asserting ownership a territory over which a state
exercises sovereignty.·The laying down of baselines is not a mode of
acquiring or asserting ownership a territory over which a state
exercises sovereignty. They are drawn for the purpose of defining or
establishing the maritime areas over which a state can exercise
sovereign rights. Baselines are used for fixing starting point from
which the territorial belt is measured seawards or from which the
adjacent maritime waters are measured.
481
VOL. 655, AUGUST 16, 2011 481
Same; View that having the Kalayaan Island Group (KIG) and
the Scarborough Shoal outside Philippine baselines will not
diminish our sovereignty over these areas.·Baselines are used to
measure the breadth of the territorial sea, the contiguous zone, the
exclusive economic zone and the continental shelf. Having KIG and
the Scarborough Shoal outside Philippine baselines will not
diminish our sovereignty over these areas.
Same; View that Republic Act (RA) No. 9522 simply seeks to
conform to our international agreement on the setting of baselines
and provides nothing about the designation of archipelagic sea-lane
passage or the regulation of innocent passage within our waters.·A
cursory reading of RA 9522 would belie petitionersÊ posture. In
context, RA 9522 simply seeks to conform to our international
agreement on the setting of baselines and provides nothing about
the designation of archipelagic sea-lane passage or the regulation of
innocent passage within our waters. Again, petitioners have read
into the amendatory RA 9522 something not intended.
Same; View that the landward waters embraced within the
baselines determined by Republic Act (RA) No. 9522 form part of the
internal waters of the Philippines.·The Philippines maintains the
sui generis character of our archipelagic waters as equivalent
to the internal waters of continental coastal states. In other
words, the landward waters embraced within the baselines
determined by RA 9522, i.e., all waters around, between, and
connecting the islands of the archipelago, regardless of their
breadth and dimensions, form part of the internal waters of the
Philippines.
SPECIAL CIVIL ACTION in the Supreme Court.

Certiorari and Prohibition.
The facts are stated in the opinion of the Court.
Harry L. Roque, Jr. Joel Ruiz Butuyan and Rommel

Regalado Bagares for petitioners.
The Solicitor General for respondents.
482

CARPIO, J.:
The Case
This original action for the writs of certiorari and

prohibition assails the constitutionality of Republic Act No.
95221 (RA 9522) adjusting the countryÊs archipelagic
baselines and classifying the baseline regime of nearby
territories.
The Antecedents
In 1961, Congress passed Republic Act No. 3046 (RA

3046)2 demarcating the maritime baselines of the
Philippines as an archipelagic State.3 This law followed the
framing of the Convention on the Territorial Sea and the
Contiguous Zone in 1958 (UNCLOS I),4 codifying, among
others, the sovereign right of States parties over their
„territorial sea,‰ the breadth of which, however, was left
undetermined. Attempts to fill this void during the second
round of negotiations in Geneva in 1960 (UNCLOS II)
proved futile. Thus, domestically, RA 3046 remained
unchanged for nearly five decades, save for legislation
passed in 1968 (Republic Act No. 5446 [RA 5446]) correc-
_______________
1 Entitled „An Act to Amend Certain Provisions of Republic Act No.
3046, as Amended by Republic Act No. 5446, to Define the Archipelagic
Baselines of the Philippines, and for Other Purposes.‰
2 Entitled „An Act to Define the Baselines of the Territorial Sea of the
Philippines.‰
3 The third „Whereas Clause‰ of RA 3046 expresses the import of
treating the Philippines as an archipelagic State:
„WHEREAS, all the waters around, between, and connecting the
various islands of the Philippine archipelago, irrespective of their width
or dimensions, have always been considered as necessary appurtenances
of the land territory, forming part of the inland waters of the
Philippines.‰
4 One of the four conventions framed during the first United Nations
Convention on the Law of the Sea in Geneva, this treaty, excluding the
Philippines, entered into force on 10 September 1964.
483
VOL. 655, AUGUST 16, 2011 483
ting typographical errors and reserving the drawing of

baselines around Sabah in North Borneo.
In March 2009, Congress amended RA 3046 by enacting
RA 9522, the statute now under scrutiny. The change was
prompted by the need to make RA 3046 compliant with the
terms of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the
Sea (UNCLOS III),5 which the Philippines ratified on 27
February 1984.6 Among others, UNCLOS III prescribes the
water-land ratio, length, and contour of baselines of
archipelagic States like the Philippines7 and sets the
deadline for the filing of application for the extended
continental shelf.8 Complying
_______________
5 UNCLOS III entered into force on 16 November 1994.
6 The Philippines signed the treaty on 10 December 1982.
7 Article 47, paragraphs 1-3, provide:
1. An archipelagic State may draw straight archipelagic
baselines joining the outermost points of the outermost islands
and drying reefs of the archipelago provided that within such
baselines are included the main islands and an area in which the
ratio of the area of the water to the area of the land, including
atolls, is between 1 to 1 and 9 to 1.
2. The length of such baselines shall not exceed 100 nautical
miles, except that up to 3 per cent of the total number of baselines
enclosing any archipelago may exceed that length, up to a
maximum length of 125 nautical miles.
3. The drawing of such baselines shall not depart to any
appreciable extent from the general configuration of the
archipelago. (Emphasis supplied)
xxxx
8 UNCLOS III entered into force on 16 November 1994. The deadline
for the filing of application is mandated in Article 4, Annex II: „Where a
coastal State intends to establish, in accordance with article 76, the outer
limits of its continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles, it shall submit
particulars of such limits to the Commission along with supporting
scientific and technical data as soon as possible but in any case within 10
years of the entry into force of this Convention for that State. The coastal
State shall at the same time
484

with these requirements, RA 9522 shortened one baseline,

optimized the location of some basepoints around the
Philippine archipelago and classified adjacent territories,
namely, the Kalayaan Island Group (KIG) and the
Scarborough Shoal, as „regimes of islands‰ whose islands
generate their own applicable maritime zones.

Petitioners, professors of law, law students and a
legislator, in their respective capacities as „citizens,
taxpayers or x x x legislators,‰9 as the case may be, assail
the constitutionality of RA 9522 on two principal grounds,
namely: (1) RA 9522 reduces Philippine maritime territory,
and logically, the reach of the Philippine stateÊs sovereign
power, in violation of Article 1 of the 1987 Constitution,10
embodying the terms of the Treaty of Paris11 and ancillary
treaties,12 and (2) RA 9522
_______________
give the names of any Commission members who have provided it
with scientific and technical advice.‰ (Underscoring supplied)
In a subsequent meeting, the States parties agreed that for States
which became bound by the treaty before 13 May 1999 (such as the
Philippines) the ten-year period will be counted from that date. Thus, RA
9522, which took effect on 27 March 2009, barely met the deadline.
9 Rollo, p. 34.
10 Which provides: „The national territory comprises the Philippine
archipelago, with all the islands and waters embraced therein, and all
other territories over which the Philippines has sovereignty or
jurisdiction, consisting of its terrestrial, fluvial, and aerial domains,
including its territorial sea, the seabed, the subsoil, the insular shelves,
and other submarine areas. The waters around, between, and connecting
the islands of the archipelago, regardless of their breadth and
dimensions, form part of the internal waters of the Philippines.‰
11 Entered into between the Unites States and Spain on 10 December
1898 following the conclusion of the Spanish-American War. Under the
terms of the treaty, Spain ceded to the United States „the archipelago
known as the Philippine Islands‰ lying within its technical description.
12 The Treaty of Washington, between Spain and the United States (7
November 1900), transferring to the US the islands of
485
VOL. 655, AUGUST 16, 2011 485

opens the countryÊs waters landward of the baselines to

maritime passage by all vessels and aircrafts, undermining
Philippine sovereignty and national security, contravening
the countryÊs nuclear-free policy, and damaging marine
resources, in violation of relevant constitutional
provisions.13
In addition, petitioners contend that RA 9522Ês
treatment of the KIG as „regime of islands‰ not only results
in the loss of a large maritime area but also prejudices the
livelihood of subsistence fishermen.14 To buttress their
argument of territorial diminution, petitioners facially
attack RA 9522 for what it excluded and included·its
failure to reference either the Treaty of Paris or Sabah and
its use of UNCLOS IIIÊs framework of regime of islands to
determine the maritime zones of the KIG and the

Scarborough Shoal.
Commenting on the petition, respondent officials raised
threshold issues questioning (1) the petitionÊs compliance
with the case or controversy requirement for judicial
review grounded on petitionersÊ alleged lack of locus standi
and (2) the propriety of the writs of certiorari and
prohibition to assail the constitutionality of RA 9522. On
the merits, respondents defended RA 9522 as the countryÊs
compliance with the terms of UNCLOS III, preserving
Philippine territory over the KIG or Scarborough Shoal.
Respondents add that RA 9522 does not undermine the
countryÊs security, environment and economic interests or
relinquish the PhilippinesÊ claim over Sabah.
Respondents also question the normative force, under
international law, of petitionersÊ assertion that what Spain
ceded to the United States under the Treaty of Paris were
the
_______________
Cagayan, Sulu, and Sibutu and the US-Great Britain Convention (2
January 1930) demarcating boundary lines between the Philippines and
North Borneo.
13 Article II, Section 7, Section 8, and Section 16.
14 Allegedly in violation of Article XII, Section 2, paragraph 2 and
Article XIII, Section 7 of the Constitution.
486

islands and all the waters found within the boundaries of

the rectangular area drawn under the Treaty of Paris.
We left unacted petitionersÊ prayer for an injunctive
writ.
The Issues
The petition raises the following issues:

A. Preliminarily·
1) Whether petitioners possess locus standi to
bring this suit; and
2) Whether the writs of certiorari and prohibition
are the proper remedies to assail the
constitutionality of RA 9522.
B. On the merits, whether RA 9522 is unconstitutional.
The Ruling of the Court
On the threshold issues, we hold that (1) petitioners

possess locus standi to bring this suit as citizens and (2)
the writs of certiorari and prohibition are proper remedies
to test the constitutionality of RA 9522. On the merits, we
find no basis to declare RA 9522 unconstitutional.
On the Threshold Issues
Petitioners Possess Locus

Standi as Citizens
Petitioners themselves undermine their assertion of
locus standi as legislators and taxpayers because the
petition alleges neither infringement of legislative
prerogative15 nor
_______________
15 Kilosbayan, Inc. v. Morato, 320 Phil. 171, 186; 246 SCRA 540
(1995).
487
VOL. 655, AUGUST 16, 2011 487

misuse of public funds,16 occasioned by the passage and

implementation of RA 9522. Nonetheless, we recognize
petitionersÊ locus standi as citizens with constitutionally
sufficient interest in the resolution of the merits of the case
which undoubtedly raises issues of national significance
necessitating urgent resolution. Indeed, owing to the
peculiar nature of RA 9522, it is understandably difficult to
find other litigants possessing „a more direct and specific
interest‰ to bring the suit, thus satisfying one of the
requirements for granting citizenship standing.17
The Writs of Certiorari and Prohibition
Are Proper Remedies to Test
the Constitutionality of Statutes
In praying for the dismissal of the petition on
preliminary grounds, respondents seek a strict observance
of the offices of the writs of certiorari and prohibition,
noting that the writs cannot issue absent any showing of
grave abuse of discretion in the exercise of judicial, quasi-
judicial or ministerial powers on the part of respondents
and resulting prejudice on the part of petitioners.18
RespondentsÊ submission holds true in ordinary civil
proceedings. When this Court exercises its constitutional
power of judicial review, however, we have, by tradition,
viewed the writs of certiorari and prohibition as proper
remedial vehicles
_______________
16 Pascual v. Secretary of Public Works, 110 Phil. 331 (1960); Sanidad
v. Commission on Elections, 165 Phil. 303; 73 SCRA 333 (1976).
17 Francisco, Jr. v. House of Representatives, 460 Phil. 830, 899; 415
SCRA 44, 139 (2003) citing Kilosbayan, Inc. v. Guingona, Jr., G.R. No.
113375, 5 May 1994, 232 SCRA 110, 155-156 (1995) (Feliciano, J.,
concurring). The two other factors are: „the character of funds or assets
involved in the controversy and a clear disregard of constitutional or

statutory prohibition.‰ Id.
18 Rollo, pp. 144-147.
488

to test the constitutionality of statutes,19 and indeed, of

acts of other branches of government.20 Issues of
constitutional import are sometimes crafted out of statutes
which, while having no bearing on the personal interests of
the petitioners, carry such relevance in the life of this
nation that the Court inevitably finds itself constrained to
take cognizance of the case and pass upon the issues
raised, non-compliance with the letter of procedural rules
notwithstanding. The statute sought to be reviewed here is
one such law.
RA 9522 is Not Unconstitutional
RA 9522 is a Statutory Tool to Demar-

cate the CountryÊs Maritime Zones and
Continental Shelf Under UNCLOS III,
not to Delineate Philippine Territory
Petitioners submit that RA 9522 „dismembers a large
portion of the national territory‰21 because it discards the
pre-UNCLOS III demarcation of Philippine territory under
the Treaty of Paris and related treaties, successively
encoded in the definition of national territory under the
1935, 1973 and 1987 Constitutions. Petitioners theorize
that this constitu-
_______________
19 See e.g. Aquino III v. Commission on Elections, G.R. No. 189793, 7
April 2010, 617 SCRA 623 (dismissing a petition for certiorari and
prohibition assailing the constitutionality of Republic Act No. 9716, not
for the impropriety of remedy but for lack of merit); Aldaba v.
Commission on Elections, G.R. No. 188078, 25 January 2010, 611 SCRA
137 (issuing the writ of prohibition to declare unconstitutional Republic
Act No. 9591); Macalintal v. Commission on Elections, 453 Phil. 586; 405
SCRA 614 (2003) (issuing the writs of certiorari and prohibition declaring
unconstitutional portions of Republic Act No. 9189).
20 See e.g. Neri v. Senate Committee on Accountability of Public
Officers and Investigations, G.R. No. 180643, 25 March 2008, 549 SCRA
77 (granting a writ of certiorari against the Philippine Senate and
nullifying the Senate contempt order issued against petitioner).
21 Rollo, p. 31.
489
VOL. 655, AUGUST 16, 2011 489
tional definition trumps any treaty or statutory provision

denying the Philippines sovereign control over waters,
beyond the territorial sea recognized at the time of the
Treaty of Paris, that Spain supposedly ceded to the United
States. Petitioners argue that from the Treaty of ParisÊ
technical description, Philippine sovereignty over
territorial waters extends hundreds of nautical miles
around the Philippine archipelago, embracing the
rectangular area delineated in the Treaty of Paris.22
PetitionersÊ theory fails to persuade us.
UNCLOS III has nothing to do with the acquisition (or
loss) of territory. It is a multilateral treaty regulating,
among others, sea-use rights over maritime zones (i.e., the
territorial waters [12 nautical miles from the baselines],
contiguous zone [24 nautical miles from the baselines],
exclusive economic zone [200 nautical miles from the
baselines]), and continental shelves that UNCLOS III
delimits.23 UNCLOS III was the culmination of decades-
long negotiations among United Nations members to codify
norms regulating the conduct of States in the worldÊs
oceans and submarine areas, recognizing coastal and
archipelagic StatesÊ graduated authority over a limited
span of waters and submarine lands along their coasts.
On the other hand, baselines laws such as RA 9522 are
enacted by UNCLOS III States parties to mark-out specific
basepoints along their coasts from which baselines are
drawn,
_______________
22 Respondents state in their Comment that petitionersÊ theory „has
not been accepted or recognized by either the United States or Spain,‰
the parties to the Treaty of Paris. Respondents add that „no State is
known to have supported this proposition.‰ Rollo, p. 179.
23 UNCLOS III belongs to that larger corpus of international law of
the sea, which petitioner Magallona himself defined as „a body of treaty
rules and customary norms governing the uses of the sea, the exploitation
of its resources, and the exercise of jurisdiction over maritime regimes. x x
x x‰ (Merlin M. Magallona, Primer on the Law of the Sea 1 [1997])
(Italicization supplied).
490

either straight or contoured, to serve as geographic starting

points to measure the breadth of the maritime zones and
continental shelf. Article 48 of UNCLOS III on archipelagic
States like ours could not be any clearer:
„Article 48. Measurement of the breadth of the territorial sea,
the contiguous zone, the exclusive economic zone and the continental
shelf.·The breadth of the territorial sea, the contiguous zone, the
exclusive economic zone and the continental shelf shall be
measured from archipelagic baselines drawn in accordance
with article 47.‰ (Emphasis supplied)
Thus, baselines laws are nothing but statutory

mechanisms for UNCLOS III States parties to delimit with
precision the extent of their maritime zones and
continental shelves. In turn, this gives notice to the rest of
the international community of the scope of the maritime
space and submarine areas within which States parties
exercise treaty-based rights, namely, the exercise of
sovereignty over territorial waters (Article 2), the
jurisdiction to enforce customs, fiscal, immigration, and
sanitation laws in the contiguous zone (Article 33), and the
right to exploit the living and non-living resources in the
exclusive economic zone (Article 56) and continental shelf
(Article 77).
Even under petitionersÊ theory that the Philippine
territory embraces the islands and all the waters within the
rectangular area delimited in the Treaty of Paris, the
baselines of the Philippines would still have to be drawn in
accordance with RA 9522 because this is the only way to
draw the baselines in conformity with UNCLOS III. The
baselines cannot be drawn from the boundaries or other
portions of the rectangular area delineated in the Treaty of
Paris, but from the „outermost islands and drying reefs of
the archipelago.‰24
_______________
24 Following Article 47 (1) of UNCLOS III which provides:
An archipelagic State may draw straight archipelagic baselines
joining the outermost points of the outermost is-
491
VOL. 655, AUGUST 16, 2011 491

UNCLOS III and its ancillary baselines laws play no

role in the acquisition, enlargement or, as petitioners claim,
diminution of territory. Under traditional international law
typology, States acquire (or conversely, lose) territory
through occupation, accretion, cession and prescription,25
not by executing multilateral treaties on the regulations of
sea-use rights or enacting statutes to comply with the
treatyÊs terms to delimit maritime zones and continental
shelves. Territorial claims to land features are outside
UNCLOS III, and are instead governed by the rules on
general international law.26
RA 9522Ês Use of the Framework of
Regime of Islands to Determine the
Maritime Zones of the KIG and the

Scarborough Shoal, not Inconsistent
with the PhilippinesÊ Claim of Sover-
eignty Over these Areas
Petitioners next submit that RA 9522Ês use of UNCLOS
IIIÊs regime of islands framework to draw the baselines,
and to measure the breadth of the applicable maritime
zones of the KIG, „weakens our territorial claim‰ over that
area.27 Petitioners add that the KIGÊs (and Scarborough
ShoalÊs) exclusion from the Philippine archipelagic
baselines results in the loss of „about 15,000 square
nautical miles of territorial
_______________
lands and drying reefs of the archipelago provided that within
such baselines are included the main islands and an area in which the
ratio of the area of the water to the area of the land, including atolls, is
between 1 to 1 and 9 to 1. (Emphasis supplied)
25 Under the United Nations Charter, use of force is no longer a valid
means of acquiring territory.
26 The last paragraph of the preamble of UNCLOS III states that
„matters not regulated by this Convention continue to be governed by the
rules and principles of general international law.‰
27 Rollo, p. 51.
492

waters,‰ prejudicing the livelihood of subsistence

fishermen.28 A comparison of the configuration of the
baselines drawn under RA 3046 and RA 9522 and the
extent of maritime space encompassed by each law, coupled
with a reading of the text of RA 9522 and its congressional
deliberations, vis-à-vis the PhilippinesÊ obligations under
UNCLOS III, belie this view.
The configuration of the baselines drawn under RA 3046
and RA 9522 shows that RA 9522 merely followed the
basepoints mapped by RA 3046, save for at least nine
basepoints that RA 9522 skipped to optimize the location of
basepoints and adjust the length of one baseline (and thus
comply with UNCLOS IIIÊs limitation on the maximum
length of baselines). Under RA 3046, as under RA 9522, the
KIG and the Scarborough Shoal lie outside of the baselines
drawn around the Philippine archipelago. This undeniable
cartographic fact takes the wind out of petitionersÊ
argument branding RA 9522 as a statutory renunciation of
the PhilippinesÊ claim over the KIG, assuming that
baselines are relevant for this purpose.
PetitionersÊ assertion of loss of „about 15,000 square
nautical miles of territorial waters‰ under RA 9522 is
similarly unfounded both in fact and law. On the contrary,
RA 9522, by optimizing the location of basepoints,

increased the PhilippinesÊ total maritime space (covering its
internal waters, territorial sea and exclusive economic
zone) by 145,216 square nautical miles, as shown in the
table below:29
Extent of maritime area using RA Extent of maritime area
3046, as amended, taking into using RA 9522, taking
account the Treaty of ParisÊ into account UNCLOS III
delimitation (in square nautical (in square nautical
miles) miles)
_______________
28 Id., at pp. 51-52, 64-66.
29 Based on figures respondents submitted in their Comment (id., at
p. 182).
493
VOL. 655, AUGUST 16, 2011 493

Internal or 166,858 171,435

archipelagic
waters
Territorial 274,136 32,106
Sea
Exclusive 382,669
Economic
Zone
TOTAL 440,994 586,210
Thus, as the map below shows, the reach of the exclusive

economic zone drawn under RA 9522 even extends way
beyond the waters covered by the rectangular demarcation
under the Treaty of Paris. Of course, where there are
overlapping exclusive economic zones of opposite or
adjacent States, there will have to be a delineation of
maritime boundaries in accordance with UNCLOS III.30
_______________
30 Under Article 74.
494

Further, petitionersÊ argument that the KIG now lies

outside Philippine territory because the baselines that RA
9522 draws do not enclose the KIG is negated by RA 9522
itself. Section 2 of the law commits to text the PhilippinesÊ
continued claim of sovereignty and jurisdiction over the

KIG and the Scarborough Shoal:
„SEC. 2. The baselines in the following areas over which the

Philippines likewise exercises sovereignty and jurisdiction
shall be determined as „Regime of Islands‰ under the Republic of
the Philippines consistent with Article 121 of the United Nations
Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS):
a) The Kalayaan Island Group as constituted under
Presidential Decree No. 1596 and
b) Bajo de Masinloc, also known as Scarborough Shoal.‰
(Emphasis supplied)
Had Congress in RA 9522 enclosed the KIG and the

Scarborough Shoal as part of the Philippine archipelago,
adverse legal effects would have ensued. The Philippines
would have committed a breach of two provisions of
UNCLOS III. First, Article 47 (3) of UNCLOS III requires
that „[t]he drawing of such baselines shall not depart to
any appreciable extent from the general configuration of
the archipelago.‰ Second, Article 47 (2) of UNCLOS III
requires that „the length of the baselines shall not exceed
100 nautical miles,‰ save for three per cent (3%) of the total
number of baselines which can reach up to 125 nautical
miles.31
Although the Philippines has consistently claimed
sovereignty over the KIG32 and the Scarborough Shoal for
several decades, these outlying areas are located at an
appreciable distance from the nearest shoreline of the
Philippine archi-
_______________
31 See note 7.
32 Presidential Decree No. 1596 classifies the KIG as a municipality of
Palawan.
495
VOL. 655, AUGUST 16, 2011 495

pelago,33 such that any straight baseline loped around

them from the nearest basepoint will inevitably „depart to
an appreciable extent from the general configuration of the
archipelago.‰
The principal sponsor of RA 9522 in the Senate, Senator
Miriam Defensor-Santiago, took pains to emphasize the
foregoing during the Senate deliberations:
„What we call the Kalayaan Island Group or what the rest of the
world call[] the Spratlys and the Scarborough Shoal are outside our
archipelagic baseline because if we put them inside our baselines we
might be accused of violating the provision of international law
which states: „The drawing of such baseline shall not depart to any

archipelago.‰ So sa loob ng ating baseline, dapat magkalapit ang
mga islands. Dahil malayo ang Scarborough Shoal, hindi natin
masasabing malapit sila sa atin although we are still allowed by
international law to claim them as our own.
This is called contested islands outside our configuration. We see
that our archipelago is defined by the orange line which [we] call[]
archipelagic baseline. Ngayon, tingnan ninyo ang maliit na circle
doon sa itaas, that is Scarborough Shoal, itong malaking circle sa
ibaba, that is Kalayaan Group or the Spratlys. Malayo na sila sa
ating archipelago kaya kung ilihis pa natin ang dating archipelagic
baselines para lamang masama itong dalawang circles, hindi na
sila magkalapit at baka hindi na tatanggapin ng United Nations
because of the rule that it should follow the natural configuration of
the archipelago.‰34 (Emphasis supplied)
Similarly, the length of one baseline that RA 3046 drew

exceeded UNCLOS IIIÊs limits. The need to shorten this
baseline, and in addition, to optimize the location of
basepoints using current maps, became imperative as
discussed by respondents:
_______________
33 KIG lies around 80 nautical miles west of Palawan while
Scarborough Shoal is around 123 nautical west of Zambales.
34 Journal, Senate 14th Congress 44th Session 1416 (27 January
2009).
496

„[T]he amendment of the baselines law was necessary to enable the

Philippines to draw the outer limits of its maritime zones including the
extended continental shelf in the manner provided by Article 47 of
[UNCLOS III]. As defined by R.A. 3046, as amended by R.A. 5446, the
baselines suffer from some technical deficiencies, to wit:
1. The length of the baseline across Moro Gulf (from Middle of 3
Rock Awash to Tongquil Point) is 140.06 nautical miles x x x. This
exceeds the maximum length allowed under Article 47(2) of the
[UNCLOS III], which states that „The length of such baselines
shall not exceed 100 nautical miles, except that up to 3 per cent of
the total number of baselines enclosing any archipelago may
exceed that length, up to a maximum length of 125 nautical
miles.‰
2. The selection of basepoints is not optimal. At least 9 basepoints
can be skipped or deleted from the baselines system. This will
enclose an additional 2,195 nautical miles of water.
3. Finally, the basepoints were drawn from maps existing in 1968,
and not established by geodetic survey methods. Accordingly, some
of the points, particularly along the west coasts of Luzon down to

Palawan were later found to be located either inland or on water,
not on low-water line and drying reefs as prescribed by Article
47.‰35
Hence, far from surrendering the PhilippinesÊ claim over

the KIG and the Scarborough Shoal, CongressÊ decision to
classify the KIG and the Scarborough Shoal as „ÂRegime[s]
of IslandsÊ under the Republic of the Philippines consistent
with Article 121‰36 of UNCLOS III manifests the Philippine
StateÊs responsible observance of its pacta sunt servanda
obligation under UNCLOS III. Under Article 121 of
UNCLOS III, any „naturally formed area of land,
surrounded by water, which is above water at high tide,‰
such as portions of the KIG, quali-
_______________
35 Rollo, p. 159.
36 Section 2, RA 9522.
497
VOL. 655, AUGUST 16, 2011 497

fies under the category of „regime of islands,‰ whose islands

generate their own applicable maritime zones.37
Statutory Claim Over Sabah under
RA 5446 Retained
PetitionersÊ argument for the invalidity of RA 9522 for
its failure to textualize the PhilippinesÊ claim over Sabah in
North Borneo is also untenable. Section 2 of RA 5446,
which RA 9522 did not repeal, keeps open the door for
drawing the baselines of Sabah:
„Section 2. The definition of the baselines of the territorial sea

of the Philippine Archipelago as provided in this Act is without
prejudice to the delineation of the baselines of the
territorial sea around the territory of Sabah, situated in
North Borneo, over which the Republic of the Philippines
has acquired dominion and sovereignty.‰ (Emphasis supplied)
UNCLOS III and RA 9522 not Incom-

patible with the ConstitutionÊs Delinea-
tion of Internal Waters
As their final argument against the validity of RA 9522,
petitioners contend that the law unconstitutionally
„converts‰ internal waters into archipelagic waters, hence
subjecting these waters to the right of innocent and sea
lanes passage
_______________
37 Article 121 provides: „Regime of islands.·
1. An island is a naturally formed area of land, surrounded by water,

which is above water at high tide.
2. Except as provided for in paragraph 3, the territorial sea, the
contiguous zone, the exclusive economic zone and the continental shelf of
an island are determined in accordance with the provisions of this
Convention applicable to other land territory.
3. Rocks which cannot sustain human habitation or economic life of
their own shall have no exclusive economic zone or continental shelf.‰
498

under UNCLOS III, including overflight. Petitioners

extrapolate that these passage rights indubitably expose
Philippine internal waters to nuclear and maritime
pollution hazards, in violation of the Constitution.38
Whether referred to as Philippine „internal waters‰
under Article I of the Constitution39 or as „archipelagic
waters‰ under UNCLOS III (Article 49 [1]), the Philippines
exercises sovereignty over the body of water lying landward
of the baselines, including the air space over it and the
submarine areas underneath. UNCLOS III affirms this:
„Article 49. Legal status of archipelagic waters, of the air space

over archipelagic waters and of their bed and subsoil.·
1. The sovereignty of an archipelagic State extends to
the waters enclosed by the archipelagic baselines drawn in
accordance with article 47, described as archipelagic waters,
regardless of their depth or distance from the coast.
2. This sovereignty extends to the air space over the
archipelagic waters, as well as to their bed and subsoil, and
the resources contained therein.
xxxx
4. The regime of archipelagic sea lanes passage established in
this Part shall not in other respects affect the status of the
archipelagic waters, including the sea lanes, or the exercise by
the archipelagic State of its sovereignty over such waters
_______________
38 Rollo, pp. 56-57, 60-64.
39 Paragraph 2, Section 2, Article XII of the Constitution uses the term
„archipelagic waters‰ separately from „territorial sea.‰ Under UNCLOS III, an
archipelagic State may have internal waters·such as those enclosed by closing
lines across bays and mouths of rivers. See Article 50, UNCLOS III. Moreover,
Article 8 (2) of UNCLOS III provides: „Where the establishment of a straight
baseline in accordance with the method set forth in article 7 has the effect of
enclosing as internal waters areas which had not previously been considered
as such, a right of innocent passage as provided in this Convention shall exist
in those waters.‰ (Emphasis supplied)
499
VOL. 655, AUGUST 16, 2011 499

and their air space, bed and subsoil, and the resources
contained therein.‰ (Emphasis supplied)
The fact of sovereignty, however, does not preclude the

operation of municipal and international law norms
subjecting the territorial sea or archipelagic waters to
necessary, if not marginal, burdens in the interest of
maintaining unimpeded, expeditious international
navigation, consistent with the international law principle
of freedom of navigation. Thus, domestically, the political
branches of the Philippine government, in the competent
discharge of their constitutional powers, may pass
legislation designating routes within the archipelagic
waters to regulate innocent and sea lanes passage.40
_______________
40 Mandated under Articles 52 and 53 of UNCLOS III:
Article 52. Right of innocent passage.·
1. Subject to article 53 and without prejudice to article 50, ships of
all States enjoy the right of innocent passage through
archipelagic waters, in accordance with Part II, section 3.
2. The archipelagic State may, without discrimination in form or in
fact among foreign ships, suspend temporarily in specified areas of its
archipelagic waters the innocent passage of foreign ships if such
suspension is essential for the protection of its security. Such suspension
shall take effect only after having been duly published. (Emphasis
supplied)
Article 53. Right of archipelagic sea lanes passage.·
1. An archipelagic State may designate sea lanes and air routes
thereabove, suitable for the continuous and expeditious passage of
foreign ships and aircraft through or over its archipelagic waters and the
adjacent territorial sea.
2. All ships and aircraft enjoy the right of archipelagic sea
lanes passage in such sea lanes and air routes.
3. Archipelagic sea lanes passage means the exercise in accordance
with this Convention of the rights of navigation and overflight in the
normal mode solely for the purpose of continuous, expeditious and
unobstructed transit between one part of the high seas or an exclusive
economic zone and another part of the high seas or an exclusive economic
zone.
4. Such sea lanes and air routes shall traverse the archipelagic
waters and the adjacent territorial sea and shall include all normal
passage routes used as routes for international navigation or overflight
500

Indeed, bills drawing nautical highways for sea lanes
passage are now pending in Congress.41
_______________
through or over archipelagic waters and, within such routes, so
far as ships are concerned, all normal navigational channels,
provided that duplication of routes of similar convenience between
the same entry and exit points shall not be necessary.
5. Such sea lanes and air routes shall be defined by a series of
continuous axis lines from the entry points of passage routes to
the exit points. Ships and aircraft in archipelagic sea lanes
passage shall not deviate more than 25 nautical miles to either
side of such axis lines during passage, provided that such ships
and aircraft shall not navigate closer to the coasts than 10 per
cent of the distance between the nearest points on islands
bordering the sea lane.
6. An archipelagic State which designates sea lanes under this
article may also prescribe traffic separation schemes for the safe
passage of ships through narrow channels in such sea lanes.
7. An archipelagic State may, when circumstances require,
after giving due publicity thereto, substitute other sea lanes or
traffic separation schemes for any sea lanes or traffic separation
schemes previously designated or prescribed by it.
8. Such sea lanes and traffic separation schemes shall conform
to generally accepted international regulations.
9. In designating or substituting sea lanes or prescribing or
substituting traffic separation schemes, an archipelagic State
shall refer proposals to the competent international organization
with a view to their adoption. The organization may adopt only
such sea lanes and traffic separation schemes as may be agreed
with the archipelagic State, after which the archipelagic State
may designate, prescribe or substitute them.
10. The archipelagic State shall clearly indicate the axis of the
sea lanes and the traffic separation schemes designated or
prescribed by it on charts to which due publicity shall be given.
11. Ships in archipelagic sea lanes passage shall respect
applicable sea lanes and traffic separation schemes established in
accordance with this article.
12. If an archipelagic State does not designate sea lanes or air
routes, the right of archipelagic sea lanes passage may be
exercised through the routes normally used for international
navigation. (Emphasis supplied)
41 Namely, House Bill No. 4153 and Senate Bill No. 2738, identically
titled „AN ACT TO ESTABLISH THE ARCHIPELAGIC SEA LANES IN
THE PHILIPPINE ARCHIPELAGIC WATERS, PRE-
501
VOL. 655, AUGUST 16, 2011 501

In the absence of municipal legislation, international

law norms, now codified in UNCLOS III, operate to grant
innocent passage rights over the territorial sea or
archipelagic waters, subject to the treatyÊs limitations and

conditions for their exercise.42 Significantly, the right of
innocent passage is
_______________
SCRIBING THE RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF FOREIGN SHIPS
AND AIRCRAFTS EXERCISING THE RIGHT OF ARCHIPELAGIC
SEA LANES PASSAGE THROUGH THE ESTABLISHED
ARCHIPELAGIC SEA LANES AND PROVIDING FOR THE
ASSOCIATED PROTECTIVE MEASURES THEREIN.‰
42 The relevant provision of UNCLOS III provides:
Article 17. Right of innocent passage.·
Subject to this Convention, ships of all States, whether
coastal or land-locked, enjoy the right of innocent passage
through the territorial sea. (Emphasis supplied)
Article 19. Meaning of innocent passage.·
1. Passage is innocent so long as it is not prejudicial to the
peace, good order or security of the coastal State. Such passage
shall take place in conformity with this Convention and with other
rules of international law.
2. Passage of a foreign ship shall be considered to be
prejudicial to the peace, good order or security of the coastal State
if in the territorial sea it engages in any of the following activities:
(a) any threat or use of force against the sovereignty,
territorial integrity or political independence of the coastal State,
or in any other manner in violation of the principles of
international law embodied in the Charter of the United Nations;
(b) any exercise or practice with weapons of any kind;
(c) any act aimed at collecting information to the prejudice of
the defence or security of the coastal State;
(d) any act of propaganda aimed at affecting the defence or
security of the coastal State;
(e) the launching, landing or taking on board of any aircraft;
(f) the launching, landing or taking on board of any military
device;
(g) the loading or unloading of any commodity, currency or
person contrary to the customs, fiscal, immigration or sanitary
laws and regulations of the coastal State;
(h) any act of willful and serious pollution contrary to this
Convention;
502

a customary international law,43 thus automatically

incorpo-
_______________
(i) any fishing activities;
(j) the carrying out of research or survey activities;
(k) any act aimed at interfering with any systems of communication
or any other facilities or installations of the coastal State;

(l) any other activity not having a direct bearing on passage
Article 21. Laws and regulations of the coastal State relating to
innocent passage.·
1. The coastal State may adopt laws and regulations, in conformity
with the provisions of this Convention and other rules of international
law, relating to innocent passage through the territorial sea, in respect of
all or any of the following:
(a) the safety of navigation and the regulation of maritime traffic;
(b) the protection of navigational aids and facilities and other
facilities or installations;
(c) the protection of cables and pipelines;
(d) the conservation of the living resources of the sea;
(e) the prevention of infringement of the fisheries laws and
regulations of the coastal State;
(f) the preservation of the environment of the coastal State and the
prevention, reduction and control of pollution thereof;
(g) marine scientific research and hydrographic surveys;
(h) the prevention of infringement of the customs, fiscal, immigration
or sanitary laws and regulations of the coastal State.
2. Such laws and regulations shall not apply to the design,
construction, manning or equipment of foreign ships unless they are
giving effect to generally accepted international rules or standards.
3. The coastal State shall give due publicity to all such laws and
regulations.
4. Foreign ships exercising the right of innocent passage through
the territorial sea shall comply with all such laws and regulations and all
generally accepted international regulations relating to the prevention of
collisions at sea.
43 The right of innocent passage through the territorial sea applies
only to ships and not to aircrafts (Article 17, UNCLOS III). The right of
innocent passage of aircrafts through the sovereign territory of a State
arises only under an international agreement. In contrast,
503
VOL. 655, AUGUST 16, 2011 503

rated in the corpus of Philippine law.44 No modern State

can validly invoke its sovereignty to absolutely forbid
innocent passage that is exercised in accordance with
customary international law without risking retaliatory
measures from the international community.
The fact that for archipelagic States, their archipelagic
waters are subject to both the right of innocent passage and
sea lanes passage45 does not place them in lesser footing
vis-à-vis continental coastal States which are subject, in
their territorial sea, to the right of innocent passage and
the right of transit passage through international straits.
The imposition of these passage rights through archipelagic
waters under UNCLOS III was a concession by
archipelagic States, in exchange for their right to claim all
the waters landward of their baselines, regardless of their

depth or distance from the coast, as archipelagic waters
subject to their territorial sovereignty. More importantly,
the recognition of archipelagic StatesÊ archipelago and the
waters enclosed by their baselines as one cohesive entity
prevents the treatment of their islands as separate islands
under UNCLOS III.46 Separate islands generate their own
maritime zones, placing the waters between islands
separated by more than 24 nautical miles be-
_______________
the right of innocent passage through archipelagic waters applies to
both ships and aircrafts (Article 53 (12), UNCLOS III).
44 Following Section 2, Article II of the Constitution: „Section 2. The
Philippines renounces war as an instrument of national policy, adopts
the generally accepted principles of international law as part of
the law of the land and adheres to the policy of peace, equality, justice,
freedom, cooperation, and amity with all nations.‰ (Emphasis supplied)
45 „Archipelagic sea lanes passage is essentially the same as transit
passage through straits‰ to which the territorial sea of continental
coastal State is subject. R.R. Churabill and A.V. Lowe, The Law of the
Sea 127 (1999).
46 Falling under Article 121 of UNCLOS III (see note 37).
504

yond the StatesÊ territorial sovereignty, subjecting these

waters to the rights of other States under UNCLOS III.47
PetitionersÊ invocation of non-executory constitutional
provisions in Article II (Declaration of Principles and State
Pol-
_______________
47 Within the exclusive economic zone, other States enjoy the
following rights under UNCLOS III:
Article 58. Rights and duties of other States in the exclusive
economic zone.·
1. In the exclusive economic zone, all States, whether coastal or
land-locked, enjoy, subject to the relevant provisions of this Convention,
the freedoms referred to in Article 87 of navigation and overflight and of
the laying of submarine cables and pipelines, and other internationally
lawful uses of the sea related to these freedoms, such as those associated
with the operation of ships, aircraft and submarine cables and pipelines,
and compatible with the other provisions of this Convention.
2. Articles 88 to 115 and other pertinent rules of international law
apply to the exclusive economic zone in so far as they are not
incompatible with this Part.
xxxx
Beyond the exclusive economic zone, other States enjoy the freedom of
the high seas, defined under UNCLOS III as follows:
Article 87. Freedom of the high seas.·

1. The high seas are open to all States, whether coastal or land-
locked. Freedom of the high seas is exercised under the conditions laid
down by this Convention and by other rules of international law. It
comprises, inter alia, both for coastal and land-locked States:
(a) freedom of navigation;
(b) freedom of overflight;
(c) freedom to lay submarine cables and pipelines, subject to Part VI;
(d) freedom to construct artificial islands and other installations
permitted under international law, subject to Part VI;
(e) freedom of fishing, subject to the conditions laid down in section
2;
(f) freedom of scientific research, subject to Parts VI and XIII.
2. These freedoms shall be exercised by all States with due regard
for the interests of other States in their exercise of the freedom of the
high seas, and also with due regard for the rights under this Convention
with respect to activities in the Area.
505
VOL. 655, AUGUST 16, 2011 505

icies)48 must also fail. Our present state of jurisprudence

considers the provisions in Article II as mere legislative
guides, which, absent enabling legislation, „do not embody
judicially enforceable constitutional rights x x x.‰49 Article
II provisions serve as guides in formulating and
interpreting implementing legislation, as well as in
interpreting executory provisions of the Constitution.
Although Oposa v. Factoran50 treated the right to a
healthful and balanced ecology under Section 16 of Article
II as an exception, the present petition lacks factual basis
to substantiate the claimed constitutional violation. The
other provisions petitioners cite, relating to the protection
of marine wealth (Article XII, Section 2, paragraph 251) and
subsistence fishermen (Article XIII, Section 752), are not
violated by RA 9522.
In fact, the demarcation of the baselines enables the
Philippines to delimit its exclusive economic zone,
reserving solely to the Philippines the exploitation of all
living and non-living resources within such zone. Such a
maritime delineation binds the international community
since the delineation is in
_______________
48 See note 13.
49 Kilosbayan, Inc. v. Morato, 316 Phil. 652, 698; 246 SCRA 540, 564
(1995); Tañada v. Angara, 338 Phil. 546, 580-581; 272 SCRA 18, 54
(1997).
50 G.R. No. 101083, 30 July 1993, 224 SCRA 792.
51 „The State shall protect the nationÊs marine wealth in its
archipelagic waters, territorial sea, and exclusive economic zone, and
reserve its use and enjoyment exclusively to Filipino citizens.‰

52 „The State shall protect the rights of subsistence fishermen,
especially of local communities, to the preferential use of the communal
marine and fishing resources, both inland and offshore. It shall provide
support to such fishermen through appropriate technology and research,
adequate financial, production, and marketing assistance, and other
services. The State shall also protect, develop, and conserve such
resources. The protection shall extend to offshore fishing grounds of
subsistence fishermen against foreign intrusion. Fishworkers shall
receive a just share from their labor in the utilization of marine and
fishing resources.‰
506

strict observance of UNCLOS III. If the maritime

delineation is contrary to UNCLOS III, the international
community will of course reject it and will refuse to be
bound by it.
UNCLOS III favors States with a long coastline like the
Philippines. UNCLOS III creates a sui generis maritime
space·the exclusive economic zone·in waters previously
part of the high seas. UNCLOS III grants new rights to
coastal States to exclusively exploit the resources found
within this zone up to 200 nautical miles.53 UNCLOS III,
however, preserves the traditional freedom of navigation of
other States that attached to this zone beyond the
territorial sea before UNCLOS III.
RA 9522 and the PhilippinesÊ Maritime Zones
Petitioners hold the view that, based on the permissive

text of UNCLOS III, Congress was not bound to pass RA
9522.54 We have looked at the relevant provision of
UNCLOS III55 and we find petitionersÊ reading plausible.
Nevertheless, the prerogative of choosing this option
belongs to Congress, not to this Court. Moreover, the
luxury of choosing this option comes at a very steep price.
Absent an UNCLOS III compliant baselines law, an
archipelagic State like the Philippines will find itself
devoid of internationally acceptable baselines from where
the breadth of its maritime zones and continental shelf is
measured. This is recipe for a two-fronted disaster: first, it
sends an open invitation to the seafaring powers to freely
_______________
53 This can extend up to 350 nautical miles if the coastal State proves
its right to claim an extended continental shelf (see UNCLOS III, Article
76, paragraphs 4(a), 5 and 6, in relation to Article 77).
54 Rollo, pp. 67-69.
55 Article 47 (1) provides: „An archipelagic State may draw straight
archipelagic baselines joining the outermost points of the outermost

islands and drying reefs of the archipelago provided that within such
baselines are included the main islands and an area in which the ratio of
the area of the water to the area of the land, including atolls, is between
1 to 1 and 9 to 1.‰ (Emphasis supplied)
507
VOL. 655, AUGUST 16, 2011 507

enter and exploit the resources in the waters and

submarine areas around our archipelago; and second, it
weakens the countryÊs case in any international dispute
over Philippine maritime space. These are consequences
Congress wisely avoided.
The enactment of UNCLOS III compliant baselines law
for the Philippine archipelago and adjacent areas, as
embodied in RA 9522, allows an internationally-recognized
delimitation of the breadth of the PhilippinesÊ maritime
zones and continental shelf. RA 9522 is therefore a most
vital step on the part of the Philippines in safeguarding its
maritime zones, consistent with the Constitution and our
national interest.
WHEREFORE, we DISMISS the petition.
SO ORDERED.
Corona (C.J.), Leonardo-De Castro, Brion, Peralta,

Bersamin, Del Castillo, Villarama, Jr., Mendoza and
Sereno, JJ., concur.
Velasco, Jr., J., Pls. See Concurring Opinion.
Abad, J., I certify that Mr. Justice Abad left his
concurring vote.
Perez, J., On Leave.
CONCURRING OPINION
VELASCO, JR., J.:
I concur with the ponencia and add the following
complementary arguments and observations:
A statute is a product of hard work and earnest studies
of Congress to ensure that no constitutional provision,
prescription or concept is infringed. Withal, before a law, in
an appropriate proceeding, is nullified, an unequivocal
breach of, or a clear conflict with, the Constitution must be
demonstrated in
508

such a way as to leave no doubt in the mind of the Court.1
In the same token, if a law runs directly afoul of the

Constitution, the CourtÊs duty on the matter should be
clear and simple: Pursuant to its judicial power and as
final arbiter of all legal questions,2 it should strike such
law down, however laudable its purpose/s might be and
regardless of the deleterious effect such action may carry in
its wake.
Challenged in these proceedings is the constitutionality
of Republic Act (RA 9522) entitled „An Act to Amend
Certain Provisions of [RA] 3046, as Amended by [RA] 5446
to Define the Archipelagic Baselines Of The Philippines and
for Other Purposes.‰ For perspective, RA 3046, „An Act to
Define the Baselines of the Territorial Sea of the
Philippines, was enacted in 1961 to comply with the United
Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) I.
Eight years later, RA 5446 was enacted to amend
typographical errors relating to coordinates in RA 3046.
The latter law also added a provision asserting Philippine
sovereignty over Sabah.
As its title suggests, RA 9522 delineates archipelagic
baselines of the country, amending in the process the old
baselines law, RA 3046. Everybody is agreed that RA 9522
was enacted in response to the countryÊs commitment to
conform to some 1982 Law of the Sea Convention (LOSC)
or UNCLOS III provisions to define new archipelagic
baselines through legislation, the Philippines having
signed3 and eventually ratified4
_______________
1 League of Cities of the Phil. v. Commission on Elections, G.R. No.
176951, December 21, 2009, 608 SCRA 636.
2 Under Art. VIII, Sec. 5 of the Constitution, the Supreme Court is
empowered to review, revise, reverse, modify, or affirm on appeal or
certiorari as the law or the Rules of Court may provide, final judgments
and orders of lower courts in: all cases in which the
Constitutionality or validity of any treaty, international or
executive agreement, law, presidential decree, proclamation, order,
instruction, ordinance, or regulation is in question. (Emphasis supplied.)
3 December 10, 1982.
509
VOL. 655, AUGUST 16, 2011 509

this multilateral treaty. The Court can take judicial notice

that RA 9522 was registered and deposited with the UN on
April 4, 2009.
As indicated in its Preamble,5 1982 LOSC aims, among
other things, to establish, with due regard for the
sovereignty of all States, „a legal order for the seas and
oceans which will facilitate international communication,
and will promote the peaceful uses of the seas and oceans.‰
One of the measures to attain the order adverted to is to

have a rule on baselines. Of particular relevance to the
Philippines, as an archipelagic state, is Article 47 of
UNCLOS III which deals with baselines:
1. An archipelagic State may draw straight archipelagic

baselines joining the outermost points of the outermost
islands and drying reefs of the archipelago provided that within
such baselines are included the main islands and an area in which
the ratio of the area of the water to the area of the land, including
atolls, is between 1 to 1 and 9 to 1.
2. The length of such baseline shall not exceed 100 nautical miles,
except that up to 3 per cent of the total number of baselines
enclosing any archipelago may exceed that length, up to a
maximum length of 125 nautical miles.
3. The drawing of such baselines shall not depart to any
archipelago.
xxxx
9. The archipelagic State shall give due publicity to such charts or
lists of geographical co-ordinates and shall deposit a copy of each
such chart or list with the Secretary-General of the United
Nations.6 (Emphasis added.)
_______________
4 May 8, 1984.
5 Available on <http://www.un.org/Depts/los/convention_
agreements/texts/unclos/closindx.htm> (visited July 28, 2011).
6 UNCLOS, Art. 47, December 10, 1982.
510

To obviate, however, the possibility that certain

UNCLOS III baseline provisions would, in their
implementation, undermine its sovereign and/or
jurisdictional interests over what it considers its territory,7
the Philippines, when it signed UNCLOS III on December
10, 1982, made the following „Declaration‰ to said treaty:
„The Government of the Republic of the Philippines [GRP]

hereby manifests that in signing the 1982 United Nations
Convention on the Law of the Sea, it does so with the
understandings embodied in this declaration, made under the
provisions of Article 310 of the Convention, to wit:
The signing of the Convention by the [GRP] shall not in any
manner impair or prejudice the sovereign rights of the [RP]
under and arising from the Constitution of the Philippines;
Such signing shall not in any manner affect the sovereign rights of
the [RP] as successor of the United States of America [USA], under
and arising out of the Treaty of Paris between Spain and the United
States of America of December 10, 1898, and the Treaty of
Washington between the [USA] and Great Britain of January 2,

1930;
xxxx
Such signing shall not in any manner impair or prejudice the
sovereignty of the [RP] over any territory over which it exercises
sovereign authority, such as the Kalayaan Islands, and the waters
appurtenant thereto;
The Convention shall not be construed as amending in any manner
any pertinent laws and Presidential Decrees or Proclamations of
the Republic of the Philippines. The [GRP] maintains and reserves
the right and authority to make any amendments to such laws,
decrees or proclamations pursuant to the provisions of the
Philippine Constitution;
The provisions of the Convention on archipelagic passage through
sea lanes do not nullify or impair the sovereignty of the Philippines
as an archipelagic state over the sea lanes and do not deprive it of
_______________
7 J. Bernas, S.J., THE 1987 CONSTITUTION OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES A
COMMENTARY 57 (2003).
511
VOL. 655, AUGUST 16, 2011 511

authority to enact legislation to protect its sovereignty

independence and security;
The concept of archipelagic waters is similar to the concept of
internal waters under the Constitution of the Philippines, and
removes straits connecting these waters with the economic zone or
high sea from the rights of foreign vessels to transit passage for
international navigation.‰8 (Emphasis added.)
Petitioners challenge the constitutionality of RA 9522 on

the principal ground that the law violates Section 1, Article
I of the 1987 Constitution on national territory which
states:
„Section 1. The national territory comprises the Philippine

archipelago, with all the islands and waters embraced therein,
and all other territories over which the Philippines has
sovereignty or jurisdiction, consisting of its terrestrial, fluvial
and aerial domains, including its territorial sea, the seabed, the
subsoil, the insular shelves, and other submarine areas. The
waters around, between, and connecting the islands of the
archipelago, regardless of their breadth and dimensions, form
part of the internal waters of the Philippines.‰ (Emphasis
supplied.)
According to Fr. Joaquin Bernas, S.J., himself a member

of the 1986 Constitutional Commission which drafted the
1987 Constitution, the aforequoted Section 1 on national
territory was „in substance a copy of its 1973 counterpart.‰9
Art. I of the 1973 Constitution reads:
„Section 1. The national territory comprises the Philippine

archipelago, with all the islands and waters embraced therein,
and all other territories belonging to the Philippines by
historic right or legal title, including the territorial sea, the air
space, the subsoil, the insular shelves, and other submarine areas
over which
_______________
8 See J. Batongbacal, The Metes and Bounds of the Philippine National
Territory, An International Law and Policy Perspective, Supreme Court of the
Philippines, Philippine Judicial Academy Third Distinguished Lecture, Far
Eastern University, June 27, 2008.
9 J. Bernas, supra note 7, at p. 10.
512

the Philippines has sovereignty or jurisdiction. The waters

around, between, and connecting the islands of the
archipelago, regardless of their breadth and dimensions, form
part of the internal waters of the Philippines.‰ (Emphasis
added.)
As may be noted both constitutions speak of the

„Philippine archipelago,‰ and, via the last sentence of their
respective provisions, assert the countryÊs adherence to the
„archipelagic principle.‰ Both constitutions divide the
national territory into two main groups: (1) the Philippine
archipelago and (2) other territories belonging to the
Philippines. So what or where is Philippine archipelago
contemplated in the 1973 and 1987 Constitutions then? Fr.
Bernas answers the poser in the following wise:
„Article I of the 1987 Constitution cannot be fully understood

without reference to Article I of the 1973 Constitution. x x x
xxxx
x x x To understand [the meaning of national territory as
comprising the Philippine archipelago], one must look into the
evolution of [Art. I of the 1973 Constitution] from its first draft to
its final form.
Section 1 of the first draft submitted by the Committee on
National Territory almost literally reproduced Article I of the 1935
Constitution x x x. Unlike the 1935 version, however, the draft
designated the Philippines not simply as the Philippines but as „the
Philippine archipelago.10 In response to the criticism that the
definition was colonial in tone x x x, the second draft further
designated the Philippine archipelago, as the historic home of the
Filipino people from its beginning.11
After debates x x x, the Committee reported out a final draft,
which became the initially approved version: „The national territory
consists of the Philippine archipelago which is the ancestral home of

the Filipino people and which is composed of all the islands and
waters embraced therein⁄‰
_______________
10 Citing Report No. 01 of the Committee on National Territory.
11 Citing Report No. 02 of the Committee on National Territory.
513
VOL. 655, AUGUST 16, 2011 513

What was the intent behind the designation of the

Philippines as an „archipelago‰? x x x Asked by Delegate
Roselller Lim (Zamboanga) where this archipelago was, Committee
Chairman Quintero answered that it was the area delineated in
the Treaty of Paris. He said that objections to the colonial
implication of mentioning the Treaty of Paris was responsible for
the omission of the express mention of the Treaty of Paris.
Report No. 01 of the Committee on National Territory had in fact
been explicit in its delineation of the expanse of this archipelago. It
said:
Now if we plot on a map the boundaries of this archipelago
as set forth in the Treaty of Paris, a huge or giant rectangle
will emerge, measuring about 600 miles in width and 1,200
miles in length. Inside this giant rectangle are the 7,100
islands comprising the Philippine Islands. From the east
coast of Luzon to the eastern boundary of this huge rectangle
in the Pacific Ocean, there is a distance of over 300 miles.
From the west coast of Luzon to the western boundary of this
giant rectangle in the China sea, there is a distance of over
150 miles.
When the [US] Government enacted the Jones Law, the
Hare-Hawes Cutting Law and the Tydings McDuffie Law, it
in reality announced to the whole world that it was turning
over to the Government of the Philippine Islands an
archipelago (that is a big body of water studded with islands),
the boundaries of which archipelago are set forth in Article
III of the Treaty of Paris. It also announced to the whole
world that the waters inside the giant rectangle belong to the
Philippines·that they are not part of the high seas.
When Spain signed the Treaty of Paris, in effect she
announced to the whole world that she was ceding to the [US]
the Philippine archipelago x x x, that this archipelago was
bounded by lines specified in the treaty, and that the
archipelago consisted of the huge body of water inside the
boundaries and the islands inside said boundaries.
The delineation of the extent of the Philippine archipelago
must be understood in the context of the modifications
made both by the Treaty of Washington of November 7, 1900,
and of the Convention of January 12, 1930, in order to include the
Islands of Sibutu and of Cagayan de Sulu and the Turtle and
514

Mangsee Islands. However, x x x the definition of the archipelago

did not include the Batanes group[, being] outside the boundaries of
the Philippine archipelago as set forth in the Treaty of Paris. In
literal terms, therefore, the Batanes islands would come not under
the Philippine archipelago but under the phrase „all other
territories belong to the Philippines.‰12 x x x (Emphasis added.)
From the foregoing discussions on the deliberations of

the provisions on national territory, the following
conclusion is abundantly evident: the „Philippine
archipelago‰ of the 1987 Constitution is the same
„Philippine archipelago‰ referred to in Art. I of the 1973
Constitution which in turn corresponds to the territory
defined and described in Art. 1 of the 1935 Constitution,13
which pertinently reads:
„Section 1. The Philippines comprises all the territory ceded to

the [US] by the Treaty of Paris concluded between the [US] and
Spain on the tenth day of December, [1898], the limits of which are
set forth in Article III of said treaty, together with all the islands in
the treaty concluded at Washington, between the [US] and Spain on
November [7, 1900] and the treaty concluded between the [US] and
Great Britain x x x.‰
While the Treaty of Paris is not mentioned in both the

1973 and 1987 Constitutions, its mention, so the
nationalistic arguments went, being „a repulsive reminder
of the indignity of our colonial past,‰14 it is at once clear
that the Treaty of Paris had been utilized as key reference
point in the definition of the national territory.
On the other hand, the phrase „all other territories over
which the Philippines has sovereignty or jurisdiction,‰
found in the 1987 Constitution, which replaced the deleted
phrase „all territories belonging to the Philippines by
historic right or
_______________
12 J. Bernas, supra note 7, at pp. 11-14.
13 Id., at p. 14.
14 Id., at p. 9; citing Speech, Session February 15, 1972, of Delegates
Amanio Sorongon, et al.
515
VOL. 655, AUGUST 16, 2011 515

legal title‰15 found in the 1973 Constitution, covers areas
linked to the Philippines with varying degrees of

certainty.16 Under this category would fall: (a) Batanes,
which then 1971 Convention Delegate Eduardo Quintero,
Chairperson of the Committee on National Territory,
described as belonging to the Philippines in all its history;17
(b) Sabah, over which a formal claim had been filed, the so-
called Freedomland (a group of islands known as
Spratleys); and (c) any other territory, over which the
Philippines had filed a claim or might acquire in the future
through recognized modes of acquiring territory.18 As an
author puts it, the deletion of the words „by historic right
or legal title‰ is not to be interpreted as precluding future
claims to areas over which the Philippines does not
actually exercise sovereignty.19
Upon the foregoing perspective and going into specifics,
petitioners would have RA 9522 stricken down as
unconstitutional for the reasons that it deprives the
Philippines of what has long been established as part and
parcel of its national territory under the Treaty of Paris, as
supplemented by the aforementioned 1900 Treaty of
Washington or, to the same effect, revises the definition on
or dismembers the national territory. Pushing their case,
petitioners argue that the constitutional definition of the
national territory cannot be remade by a mere statutory
act.20 As another point, petitioners parlay the theory that
the law in question virtually weakens the countryÊs
territorial claim over the Kalayaan Island Group (KIG) and
Sabah, both of which come under the cate-
_______________
15 The history of this deleted phrase goes back to the last clause of
Art. I of the 1935 Constitution which included „all territory over which
the present Government of the Philippine Islands exercises jurisdiction.
See J. Bernas, supra note 7, at p. 14.
17 Id.; citing deliberations of the February 17, 1972 Session.
18 Id.
19 De Leon, PHILIPPINE CONSTITUTION 62 (2011).
20 Petition, pp. 4-5.
516

gory of „other territories‰ over the Philippines has

sovereignty or jurisdiction. Petitioners would also assail
the law on grounds related to territorial sea lanes and
internal waters transit passage by foreign vessels.
It is remarkable that petitioners could seriously argue
that RA 9522 revises the Philippine territory as defined in
the Constitution, or worse, constitutes an abdication of
territory.
It cannot be over-emphasized enough that RA 9522 is a

baseline law enacted to implement the 1982 LOSC, which
in turn seeks to regulate and establish an orderly sea use
rights over maritime zones. Or as the ponencia aptly states,
RA 9522 aims to mark-out specific base points along the
Philippine coast from which baselines are drawn to serve
as starting points to measure the breadth of the territorial
sea and maritime zones.21 The baselines are set to
define the sea limits of a state, be it coastal or
archipelagic, under the UNCLOS III regime. By
setting the baselines to conform to the prescriptions
of UNCLOS III, RA 9522 did not surrender any
territory, as petitioners would insist at every turn,
for UNCLOS III is concerned with setting order in
the exercise of sea-use rights, not the acquisition or
cession of territory. And let it be noted that under
UNCLOS III, it is recognized that countries can have
territories outside their baselines. Far from having a
dismembering effect, then, RA 9522 has in a limited
but real sense increased the countryÊs maritime
boundaries. How this situation comes about was
extensively explained by then Minister of State and head of
the Philippine delegation to UNCLOS III Arturo Tolentino
in his spon-
_______________
21 Art. 48 of UNCLOS III provides that the breadth of the territorial
sea, the contiguous zone, the exclusive economic zone and the continental
shelf shall be measured from the archipelagic baseline drawn in
accordance with Art. 47.
517
VOL. 655, AUGUST 16, 2011 517

sorship speech22 on the concurrence of the Batasang

Pambansa with the LOSC:
„x x x x
Then, we should consider, Mr. Speaker, that under the archipelagic
principle, the whole area inside the archipelagic base lines become a
unified whole and the waters between the islands which formerly
were regarded by international law as open or international seas
now become waters under the complete sovereignty of the Filipino
people. In this light there would be an additional area of 141,800
square nautical miles inside the base lines that will be recognized
by international law as Philippine waters, equivalent to 45,351,050
hectares. These gains in the waters of the sea, 45,211,225 hectares
outside the base lines and 141,531,000 hectares inside the base
lines, total 93,742,275 hectares as a total gain in the waters under
Philippine jurisdiction.
From a pragmatic standpoint, therefore, the advantage to our
country and people not only in terms of the legal unification of land
and waters of the archipelago in the light of international law, but
also in terms of the vast resources that will come under the
dominion and jurisdiction of the Republic of the Philippines, your
Committee on Foreign Affairs does not hesitate to ask this august
Body to concur in the Convention by approving the resolution before
us today.
May I say it was the unanimous view of delegations at the
Conference on the Law of the Sea that archipelagos are among the
biggest gainers or beneficiaries under the Convention on the Law of
the Sea.‰
Lest it be overlooked, the constitutional provision on

national territory, as couched, is broad enough to
encompass RA 9522Ês definition of the archipelagic
baselines. To reiterate, the laying down of baselines is not a
mode of acquiring or asserting ownership a territory over
which a state exercises sovereignty. They are drawn for the
purpose of defining or
_______________
22 R.P. Lotilla, THE PHILIPPINE NATIONAL TERRITORY: A COLLECTION OF
RELATED DOCUMENTS 513-517 (1995); citing Batasang Pambansa, Acts and

Resolution, 6th Regular Session.
518

establishing the maritime areas over which a state can

exercise sovereign rights. Baselines are used for fixing
starting point from which the territorial belt is measured
seawards or from which the adjacent maritime waters are
measured. Thus, the territorial sea, a marginal belt of
maritime waters, is measured from the baselines extending
twelve (12) nautical miles outward.23 Similarly, Art. 57 of
the 1982 LOSC provides that the Exclusive Economic Zone
(EEZ) „shall not extend beyond 200 nautical miles from the
baselines from which the breadth of the territorial sea is
measured.‰24 Most important to note is that the baselines
indicated under RA 9522 are derived from Art. 47 of the
1982 LOSC which was earlier quoted.
Since the 1987 ConstitutionÊs definition of national
territory does not delimit where the PhilippineÊs baselines
are located, it is up to the political branches of the
government to supply the deficiency. Through Congress,
the Philippines has taken an official position regarding its
baselines to the international community through RA
3046,25 as amended by RA 544626 and RA 9522. When the
Philippines deposited a copy of RA 9522 with the UN
Secretary General, we effectively complied in good faith
with our obligation under the 1982 LOSC. A declaration by
the Court of the constitutionality of the law will complete

the bona fides of the Philippines vis-a-vis the law of the sea
treaty.
It may be that baseline provisions of UNCLOS III, if
strictly implemented, may have an imposing impact on the
signatory statesÊ jurisdiction and even their sovereignty.
But this actuality, without more, can hardly provide a
justifying dimension to nullify the complying RA 9522. As
held by the
_______________
24 UNCLOS III, Art. 57.
25 June 17, 1961.
26 September 18, 1968.
519
VOL. 655, AUGUST 16, 2011 519

Court in Bayan Muna v. Romulo,27 treaties and

international agreements have a limiting effect on the
otherwise encompassing and absolute nature of
sovereignty. By their voluntary acts, states may decide to
surrender or waive some aspects of their sovereignty. The
usual underlying consideration in this partial surrender
may be the greater benefits derived from a pact or
reciprocal undertaking. On the premise that the
Philippines has adopted the generally accepted principles
of international law as part of the law of the land, a portion
of sovereignty may be waived without violating the
Constitution.
As a signatory of the 1982 LOSC, it behooves the
Philippines to honor its obligations thereunder. Pacta sunt
servanda, a basic international law postulate that „every
treaty in force is binding upon the parties to it and must be
performed by them in good faith.‰28 The exacting
imperative of this principle is such that a state may not
invoke provisions in its constitution or its laws as an
excuse for failure to perform this duty.‰29
The allegation that Sabah has been surrendered by
virtue of RA 9522, which supposedly repealed the
hereunder provision of RA 5446, is likewise unfounded.
„Section 2. The definition of the baselines of the territorial sea of

the Philippine Archipelago as provided in this Act is without
prejudice to the delineation of the baselines of the territorial sea
around the territory of Sabah, situated in North Borneo, over which
the Republic of the Philippines has acquired dominion and
sovereignty.‰
There is nothing in RA 9522 indicating a clear intention

to supersede Sec. 2 of RA 5446. Petitioners obviously have
read
_______________
27 G.R. No. 159618, February 1, 2011, 641 SCRA 244; citing Tañada v.
Angara, G.R. No. 118295, May 2, 1997, 272 SCRA 18.
28 Art. 26, Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties, 1969.
29 Art. 13, Declaration of Rights and Duties of States Adopted by the
International Law Commission, 1949.
520

too much into RA 9522Ês amendment on the baselines found

in an older law. Aside from setting the countryÊs baselines,
RA 9522 is, in its Sec. 3, quite explicit in its reiteration of
the PhilippinesÊ exercise of sovereignty, thus:
„Section 3. This Act affirms that the Republic of the Philippines

has dominion, sovereignty and jurisdiction over all portions of the
national territory as defined in the Constitution and by provisions
of applicable laws including, without limitation, Republic Act No.
7160, otherwise known as the Local Government Code of 1991, as
amended.‰
To emphasize, baselines are used to measure the

breadth of the territorial sea, the contiguous zone, the
exclusive economic zone and the continental shelf. Having
KIG and the Scarborough Shoal outside Philippine
baselines will not diminish our sovereignty over these
areas. Art. 46 of UNCLOS III in fact recognizes that
an archipelagic state, such as the Philippines, is a
state „constituted wholly by one or more
archipelagos and may include other islands.‰
(emphasis supplied) The „other islands‰ referred to in Art.
46 are doubtless islands not forming part of the archipelago
but are nevertheless part of the stateÊs territory.
The PhilippinesÊ sovereignty over KIG and Scarborough
Shoal are, thus, in no way diminished. Consider: Other
countries such as Malaysia and the United States have
territories that are located outside its baselines, yet there
is no territorial question arising from this arrangement.30
It may well be apropos to point out that the Senate
version of the baseline bill that would become RA 9522
contained the following explanatory note: The law
„reiterates our sovereignty over the Kalayaan Group of
Islands declared as part of the Philippine territory under
Presidential Decree No. 1596. As part of the Philippine
territory, they shall be considered as
_______________
30 See J. Batongbacal, supra note 8.
521
VOL. 655, AUGUST 16, 2011 521

a Âregime of islandsÊ under Article 121 of the Convention.‰31

Thus, instead of being in the nature of a „treasonous
surrender‰ that petitioners have described it to be, RA 9522
even harmonizes our baseline laws with our international
agreements, without limiting our territory to those
confined within the countryÊs baselines.
Contrary to petitionersÊ contention, the classification of
KIG and the Scarborough Shoal as falling under the
PhilippineÊs regime of islands is not constitutionally
objectionable. Such a classification serves as compliance
with LOSC and the PhilippinesÊ assertion of sovereignty
over KIG and Scarborough Shoal. In setting the baseline in
KIG and Scarborough Shoal, RA 9522 states that these are
areas „over which the Philippines likewise exercises
sovereignty and jurisdiction.‰ It is, thus, not correct for
petitioners to claim that the Philippines has lost 15,000
square nautical miles of territorial waters upon making
this classification. Having 15,000 square nautical miles of
Philippine waters outside of our baselines, to reiterate,
does not translate to a surrender of these waters. The
Philippines maintains its assertion of ownership over
territories outside of its baselines. Even China views RA
9522 as an assertion of ownership, as seen in its Protest32
filed with the UN Secretary-General upon the deposit of RA
9522.
_______________
31 Id.
32 The Protest reads in part: „The above-mentioned Philippine Act
illegally claims Huangyan Island (referred as „Bajo de Masinloc‰ in the
Act) of China as „areas over which the Philippines likewise exercises
sovereignty and jurisdiction.‰ The Chinese Government hereby reiterates
that Huangyan Island and Nansha Islands have been part of the
territory of China since ancient time. The PeopleÊs Republic of China has
indisputable sovereignty over Huangyan Island and Nansha Islands and
their surrounding areas. Any claim to territorial sovereignty over
Huangyan Island and Nansha Islands by any other State is, therefore,
null and void.‰ Available on
<http://www.un.org/Depts/los/LEGISLATIONANDTREATIES/PDFFILES/DEPOSIT/communicationsredeposit/mzn69_2009_chn.pdf>
(visited August 9, 2011).
522

We take judicial notice of the effective occupation of KIG

by the Philippines. Petitioners even point out that national
and local elections are regularly held there. The
classification of KIG as under a „regime of islands‰ does not
in any manner affect the PhilippinesÊ consistent position
with regard to sovereignty over KIG. It does not affect the
PhilippinesÊ other acts of ownership such as occupation or
amend Presidential Decree No. 1596, which declared KIG
as a municipality of Palawan.
The fact that the baselines of KIG and Scarborough
Shoal have yet to be defined would not detract to the
constitutionality of the law in question. The resolution of
the problem lies with the political departments of the
government.
All told, the concerns raised by the petitioners about the
diminution or the virtual dismemberment of the Philippine
territory by the enactment of RA 9522 are, to me, not well
grounded. To repeat, UNCLOS III pertains to a law on
the seas, not territory. As part of its Preamble,33 LOSC
recognizes „the desirability of establishing through this
Convention, with due regard for the sovereignty of all
States, a legal order for the seas and oceans x x x.‰
This brings me to the matter of transit passage of
foreign vessels through Philippine waters.
Apropos thereto, petitioners allege that RA 9522 violates
the nuclear weapons-free policy under Sec. 8, in relation to
Sec. 16, Art. II of the Constitution, and exposes the
Philippines to marine pollution hazards, since under the
LOSC the Philippines supposedly must give to ships of all
states the right of innocent passage and the right of
archipelagic sea-lane passage.
The adverted Sec. 8, Art. II of the 1987 Constitution
declares the adoption and pursuit by the Philippines of „a
policy of freedom from nuclear weapons in its territory.‰ On
the
_______________
33 Supra note 5.
523
VOL. 655, AUGUST 16, 2011 523

other hand, the succeeding Sec. l6 underscores the StateÊs

firm commitment „to protect and advance the right of the
people to a balanced and healthful ecology in accord with
the rhythm and harmony of nature.‰ Following the
allegations of petitioners, these twin provisions will
supposedly be violated inasmuch as RA 9522 accedes to the
right of innocent passage and the right of archipelagic sea-
lane passage provided under the LOSC. Therefore, ships of
all nations––be they nuclear-carrying warships or neutral
commercial vessels transporting goods––can assert the

right to traverse the waters within our islands.
A cursory reading of RA 9522 would belie petitionersÊ
posture. In context, RA 9522 simply seeks to conform to our
international agreement on the setting of baselines and
provides nothing about the designation of archipelagic sea-
lane passage or the regulation of innocent passage within
our waters. Again, petitioners have read into the
amendatory RA 9522 something not intended.
Indeed, the 1982 LOSC enumerates the rights and
obligations of archipelagic party-states in terms of transit
under Arts. 51 to 53, which are explained below:
„To safeguard, in explicit terms, the general balance struck by

[Articles 51 and 52] between the need for passage through the area
(other than straits used for international navigation) and the
archipelagic stateÊs need for security, Article 53 gave the
archipelagic state the right to regulate where and how ships and
aircraft pass through its territory by designating specific sea lanes.
Rights of passage through these archipelagic sea lanes are regarded
as those of transit passage:
(1) An archipelagic State may designate sea lanes and air
routes thereabove, suitable for safe, continuous and expeditious
passage of foreign ships and aircraft through or over its archipelagic
waters and the adjacent territorial sea.
(2) All ships and aircraft enjoy the right of archipelagic sea
lanes passage in such sea lanes and air routes.
524

(3) Archipelagic sea lanes passage is the exercise in accordance

with the present Convention of the rights of navigation and
overflight in the normal mode solely for the purpose of continuous,
expeditious and unobstructed transit between one part of the high
seas or an exclusive economic zone and another part of the high
seas or an exclusive economic zone.‰34
But owing to the geographic structure and physical

features of the country, i.e., where it is „essentially a body
of water studded with islands, rather than islands with
water around them,‰35 the Philippines has consistently
maintained the conceptual unity of land and water as a
necessary element for territorial integrity,36 national
security (which may be compromised by the presence of
warships and surveillance ships on waters between the
islands),37 and the preservation of its maritime resources.
As succinctly explained by Minister Arturo Tolentino, the
essence of the archipelagic concept is „the dominion and
sovereignty of the archipelagic State within its baselines,
which were so drawn as to preserve the territorial integrity
of the archipelago by the inseparable unity of the land

and water domain.‰38 Indonesia, like the Philippines, in
terms of geographic reality, has expressed agreement with
this interpretation of the archipelagic con-
_______________
34 C. Ku, The Archipelagic States Concept and Regional Stability in
Southeast Asia, Case W. Res. J. IntÊl L., Vol. 23:463, 469; citing 1958 U.N.
Conference on the Law of the Sea, Summary Records 44, Doc. A/Conf.
13/42.
35 Id.
36 Hiran W. Jayewardene, The Regime of Islands in International
Law, AD Dordrecht: Martinus Nijhoff Publishers, p. 103 (1990).
37 Id., at p. 112.
38 UNCLOS III Off. Rec., Vol. II, 264, par. 65, and also pars. 61-62 and
66; cited in B. Kwiatkowska, „The Archipelagic Regime in Practice in the
Philippines and Indonesia – Making or Breaking International Law?‰,
International Journal of Estuarine and Coastal Law, Vol. 6, No. 1, pp. 6-
7.
525
VOL. 655, AUGUST 16, 2011 525

cept. So it was that in 1957, the Indonesian Government

issued the Djuanda Declaration, therein stating:
„[H]istorically, the Indonesian archipelago has been an entity

since time immemorial. In view of the territorial entirety and of
preserving the wealth of the Indonesian state, it is deemed
necessary to consider all waters between the islands and entire
entity.
x x x On the ground of the above considerations, the Government
states that all waters around, between and connecting, the
islands or parts of islands belonging to the Indonesian
archipelago irrespective of their width or dimension are natural
appurtenances of its land territory and therefore an integral
part of the inland or national waters subject to the absolute
sovereignty of Indonesia.‰39 (Emphasis supplied.)
Hence, the Philippines maintains the sui generis

character of our archipelagic waters as equivalent to
the internal waters of continental coastal states. In
other words, the landward waters embraced within the
baselines determined by RA 9522, i.e., all waters around,
between, and connecting the islands of the archipelago,
regardless of their breadth and dimensions, form part of
the internal waters of the Philippines.40 Accordingly, such
waters are not covered by the jurisdiction of the LOSC and
cannot be subjected to the rights granted to foreign states
in archipelagic waters, e.g., the right of innocent passage,41
which is allowed only in the territorial seas, or that area of
the ocean comprising 12 miles from the baselines of our
archipelago; archipelagic sea-lane passage;42 over flight;43

and traditional fishing rights.44
_______________
39 4 Whiteman D.G., INTERNATIONAL LAW 284 (1965); quoted in C. Ku,
supra note 34, at p. 470.
40 1987 CONSTITUTION, Art. I.
41 LOSC, Arts. 52 and 54.
42 LOSC, Art. 53, par. 2.
44 LOSC, Art. 51.
526

Our position that all waters within our baselines are

internal waters, which are outside the jurisdiction of the
1982 LOSC,45 was abundantly made clear by the Philippine
Declaration at the time of the signing of the LOSC on
December 10, 1982. To reiterate, paragraphs 5, 6 and 7 of
the Declaration state:
5. The Convention shall not be construed as amending in any

manner any pertinent laws and Presidential decrees of
Proclamation of the republic of the Philippines; the Government x
x x maintains and reserves the right and authority to make
any amendments to such laws, decrees or proclamations
pursuant to the provisions of the Philippine Constitution;
6. The provisions of the Convention on archipelagic
passage through sea lanes do not nullify or impair the
sovereignty of the Philippines as an archipelagic State over the
sea lanes and do not deprive it of authority to enact
legislation to protect its sovereignty, independence and
security;
7. The concept of archipelagic waters is similar to the
concept of internal waters under the Constitution of the
Philippines and removes straits connecting this water with
the economic zone or high seas from the rights of foreign
vessels to transit passage for international navigation.
(Emphasis supplied.)46
More importantly, by the ratification of the 1987

Constitution on February 2, 1987, the integrity of the
Philippine state as comprising both water and land was
strengthened by the proviso in its first article, viz.: „The
waters around, between, and connecting the islands
of the [Philippine]
_______________
46 Cf. B. Kwiatkowska, supra note 38; citing J.D. Ingles, „The United
Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea: Implications of Philippine

Ratification,‰ 9 Philippine Yil (1983) 48-9 and 61-2; and Congress of the
Philippines, First Regular Session, Senate, S. No. 232, Explanatory Note
and An Act to Repeal Section 2 (concerning TS baselines around Sabah
disputed with Malaysia) of the 1968 Act No. 5446.
527
VOL. 655, AUGUST 16, 2011 527

archipelago, regardless of their breadth and

dimensions, form part of the internal waters of the
Philippines.‰ (emphasis supplied)
In effect, contrary to petitionersÊ allegations, the
PhilippinesÊ ratification of the 1982 LOSC did not matter-
of-factly open our internal waters to passage by foreign
ships, either in the concept of innocent passage or
archipelagic sea-lane passage, in exchange for the
international communityÊs recognition of the Philippines as
an archipelagic state. The Filipino people, by ratifying the
1987 Constitution, veritably rejected the quid pro quo
petitioners take as being subsumed in that treaty.
Harmonized with the Declaration and the Constitution,
the designation of baselines made in RA 9522 likewise
designates our internal waters, through which passage by
foreign ships is not a right, but may be granted by the
Philippines to foreign states but only as a dissolvable
privilege.
In view of the foregoing, I vote to DISMISS the Petition.
Petition dismissed.
Note.·The sovereign people may, if it so desired, go to

the extent of giving up a portion of its own territory to the
Moros for the sake of peace, for it can change the
Constitution in any it wants, so long as the change is not
inconsistent with what, in international law, is known as
Jus Cogens. (Province of North Cotabato vs. Government of
the Republic of the Philippines Peace Panel on Ancestral
Domain [GRP], 568 SCRA 402 [2008])
··o0o··
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Magallona Vs Ermita

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SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED VOLUME 655 29/08/2019, 11)11 AM

G.R. No. 187167. August 16, 2011.*

PROF. MERLIN M. MAGALLONA, AKBAYAN PARTY-

VOL. 655, AUGUST 16, 2011 477

FOREIGN AFFAIRS, HON. ROLANDO ANDAYA, IN HIS

United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS

478 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED

Magallona vs. Ermita

pelagic baselines drawn in accordance with article 47. (Emphasis

jurisdiction to enforce customs, fiscal, immigration, and sanitation

VOL. 655, AUGUST 16, 2011 479

Magallona vs. Ermita

of „regime of islands,‰ whose islands generate their own applicable

exploit the resources found within this zone up to 200 nautical

480 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED

Magallona vs. Ermita

Same; Archipelagic Baselines of the Philippines (Republic Act

And let it be noted that under UNCLOS III, it is recognized that

VOL. 655, AUGUST 16, 2011 481

Magallona vs. Ermita

SPECIAL CIVIL ACTION in the Supreme Court.

Harry L. Roque, Jr. Joel Ruiz Butuyan and Rommel

482 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED

This original action for the writs of certiorari and

In 1961, Congress passed Republic Act No. 3046 (RA

VOL. 655, AUGUST 16, 2011 483

Magallona vs. Ermita

ting typographical errors and reserving the drawing of

484 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED

with these requirements, RA 9522 shortened one baseline,

generate their own applicable maritime zones.

VOL. 655, AUGUST 16, 2011 485

opens the countryÊs waters landward of the baselines to

determine the maritime zones of the KIG and the

486 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED

islands and all the waters found within the boundaries of

The petition raises the following issues:

The Ruling of the Court

On the threshold issues, we hold that (1) petitioners

find no basis to declare RA 9522 unconstitutional.

On the Threshold Issues

Petitioners Possess Locus

VOL. 655, AUGUST 16, 2011 487

misuse of public funds,16 occasioned by the passage and

involved in the controversy and a clear disregard of constitutional or

488 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED

to test the constitutionality of statutes,19 and indeed, of

RA 9522 is Not Unconstitutional

RA 9522 is a Statutory Tool to Demar-

VOL. 655, AUGUST 16, 2011 489

Magallona vs. Ermita

tional definition trumps any treaty or statutory provision

490 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED

either straight or contoured, to serve as geographic starting

„Article 48. Measurement of the breadth of the territorial sea,

Thus, baselines laws are nothing but statutory

VOL. 655, AUGUST 16, 2011 491