Justice Antonio Carpio yesterday said not all is doom and gloom with President Rodrigo Duterte’s policy on the West Philippine Sea.

Carpio made this remark during the second anniversary of the Arbitral Ruling on South China Sea dispute.

Carpio also said all is not lost in defending Philippine Maritime zones in the WPS.

“I have always said that defending Philippine maritime zones in the West Philippine Sea is an inter-generational struggle. Yesterday was just the second anniversary of the July 12, 2016 Award. We have a long way to go but we must stay the course,” Carpio said.

He added that with the support of the Filipino people, the UNCLOS member states and the world’s naval powers that seek to maintain rule of law in the oceans and seas, perseverance is a must and will prevail.

However, Carpio said he is heartened by the drawing of the red line on the Scaborough Shoal by Secretary of Foreign Affairs Peter Cayetano.

“That red line is: China cannot build on Scarborough Shoal. This should be the red line of the Philippines and the Filipino people. The DFA should campaign among ASEAN states, in particular, among those states prejudiced by the nine-dash line, to make Scarborough Shoal also ASEAN’s red line that China cannot build on Scarborough Shoal.”

He reiterated the DFA should also campaign for the United States to make Scarborough Shoal the official red line under the Philippine-US Mutual Defense Treaty.