On May 1, 2019, Malacañang announced that holding bilateral talks with China was the best option to resolve its long-standing territorial dispute with the global superpower in the West Philippine Sea. Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo said that the country had no other alternative considering that it was incapable of prevailing against China in an armed confrontation.

On this point, Tañada said the position of the administration was overly simplistic, “Una, malinaw naman na hindi lang dalawa ang option natin: bilateral talks o giyera. Masyadong simplistic naman ‘yun. Parang tinatakot tayo ng sarili nating pamahalaan para mapilitan tayong sumang-ayon sa gusto nila. Tama naman sila na walang may gusto ng giyera, pero hindi lang naman bilateral talks ang option natin.”However, many authorities are of the opinion that bilateral negotiations favor China, which will always be the larger party in any territorial contest with its neighbors. That is why the Association of South East Asian Nations or ASEAN, which includes the Philippines and a number of other countries with similar claims, has been trying to enter into a multilateral agreement with China vis-à-vis a Code of Conduct covering the disputed territory.

“Tandaan natin, hindi lamang ang China ang may overlapping claim. Pati na rin ang Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, at Taiwan ay may sariling interpretasyon sa pagmamay-ari ng Spratleys. Kung makipagsundo tayo hinggil sa mga isla sa China, nangangahulugan ba ito na hindi na kailangang makipag-ayos rin sa mga ibang bansang may sariling claim? Hindi ba’t gawa nang kapwa miyembro rin ng ASEAN ang karamihan sa kanila, dapat kasama natin sila sa usapan?” Tañada continues.

Maritime law experts even suggested that the West Philippine Sea be declared a “global common” – a term typically used to refer to the earth’s shared natural resources, such as the deep oceans, the atmosphere, outer space, and the Polar Regions. Instead of drawing ownership lines, Prof. Clarita Carlos, a political science and foreign policy expert at the University of the Philippines, suggests that the claimants focus on preserving fish stocks and century-old corals and reefs from irreversible damage.

Recently, the harvesting of giant clams in the Scarborough Shoal by Chinese fishermen caused widespread outrage in the Philippines. These clams were seeded by Filipino Marine Scientists as part of conservation efforts.

Tañada said, “China has a history of saying one thing and doing something completely different. Kung maalala niyo, sabi ng China hindi imi-militarize ang South China Sea. Pero ano nangyari? Ngayon, may bombers, sundalo at radar stations na sa artificial island nila doon. Kaya kahit may mapag-usapan sa bilateral talks, ano ang guarantee na susunod sa usapan ang China?”

This was the reaction of former Deputy Speaker and senatorial candidate Lorenzo “Erin” Tañada as he and his father, former Senator Wigberto “Bobby” Tañada were at the receiving end of one of President Rodrigo Duterte’s vitriolic attacks. Speaking in front of a crowd in Marikina Hotel and Convention Center, the President called out the Tañadas for having done nothing but defend communists.

“I have never defended communists in court as alleged by President Duterte. I am a human rights lawyer. My grandfather and father defended Ninoy Aquino during Martial Law.” Tañada said.

Tañada, however, emphasized that right to counsel is a basic personal right. “There is nothing wrong defending communists in Court. The Bill of Rights article of the Constitution states that no one can be deprived of life or liberty without having been provided with a good defense in a fair trial. They, just like everyone else, are entitled to their day in court aided by competent counsel.”

During Tañada’s three terms as Quezon Province Fourth District’s Representative in Congress, he authored the Repeal of the Death Penalty Law, Cheaper Medicines Law, Anti-Torture Act, Condonation of SSS Penalties on Deliquent Contributions, People’s Survival Fund, Anti-Enforced Disappearance Act, Human Rights Recognition and Reparation Act, and the Universal Healthcare Law. He voted against the raising of the VAT rate from 10 to 12% and has always called for a tax structure that shifts the burden to the rich rather than the poor. In his nine years in Congress, Tañada said he relentlessly worked for the welfare of Filipino workers and farmers, and all consistently within the context of human rights.

“There is nothing wrong with dreaming about better economic, employment, and living conditions for our farmers and workers. There is nothing wrong about believing in yourself that you can do something about it. That I share this aspiration with the CPP-NPA does not mean I am a member of the Party. Some universal ideals are worth fighting for. And I will fight for them as how my grandfather and my father fought for them--with all their heart, their mind, their life,” shared Tañada.