Malacanang expressed appreciation on Tuesday to the Catholic Bishops of the Philippines (CBCP) for praying for the peaceful resolution of the maritime disputes in the West Philippines Sea (WPS).

”We thank our Bishops for calling upon the prayers of the faithful for the protection of the Philippines and a peaceful resolution of maritime entitlement issues in the West Philippine Sea,” Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said in a press statement he read in a press briefing in Malacanang.

The CBCP issued its “oratio imperata” (obligatory prayer) as a high-level delegation defends the Philippines’ case against China over WPS before an arbitral tribunal at The Hague, Netherlands.

Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte has announced the conclusion of the Arbitral Tribunal’s hearing on jurisdiction and admissibility of the Philippines’ arbitration case.

”The hearing concluded with the second round of arguments conducted today for the Philippines to address additional and clarificatory questions from the Tribunal,” Valte said in a press statement from The Hague.

Valte said the Arbitral Tribunal scheduled two rounds of hearing on jurisdiction and admissibility on the case filed by the Philippines.

”The first round of oral arguments was held on 7-8 July 2015. The Tribunal deliberated on scheduling a second round of arguments, conscious of its duty to assure parties of the full opportunity to present its case,” she said.

Read more: http://tankler.com/cbcp-praying-for-peaceful-resolution-in-west-philippine-sea/