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Baselines bill pass Senate on 3rd reading


MANILA, Philippines - Voting 15-0, the Senate on Wednesday afternoon approved on third and final reading the 2009 Baselines Bill delineating the country's archipelagic baselines. Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr. said he withdrew his objection to the treatment of the Kalayaan Islands and Scarborogh Shoal as part of a "regime of islands" instead of being enclosed within the archipelagic baselines. He said he supported the final version Senate Bill 2699 after Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago, chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, adopted the compromise that the contested islands remain subject to the sovereignty and territorial claim of the Republic of the Philippines. "I agreed to the compromise wherein the Kalayaan Islands and Scarborough Shoal will be treated as a regime of islands but under the sovereignty or territorial claim by the Republic of the Philippines. That was the formula that was accepted by Senator Santiago. And that removed the stumbling block to the bill's approval," Pimentel said. He cited Section 3 of the urgent bill which states: "This act shall be without prejudice to Philippine dominion and sovereignty over all portions of the national territory as defined under Article 1 of the Constitution of the Philippines and applicable laws." Pimentel pointed out that Kalayaan Islands – part of the Spratly Islands in the China Sea whose ownership is being claimed by other countries – have been officially declared part of Philippine territory under existing laws dating back to the Marcos administration. He said the incorporation of the section allayed apprehension that the country's claim to the Kalayaan Islands and Scarborough might be undermined. Pimentel said that while the version of the bill approved by the House of Representatives treats Kalayaan Islands and Scarborough Shoal differently by placing them within the baselines it would be smooth sailing for the measure when it goes to the Bicameral Conference Committee. He said Cebu Rep. Antonio Cuenco, chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Relations, informed him that the House panel would simply adopt and approve the Senate version. Pimentel said he saw no more obstacle to the final enactment of the baselines law to beat the May 13, 2009 deadline of the United Nations. - Amita Legaspi, GMANews.TV
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