(Eagle News)–The Integrated Bar of the Philippines and several fishermen have filed a motion to withdraw their Supreme Court petition that sought for the protection of the environment in the West Philippine Sea.
The filing of the motion, which was announced by IBP national president Domingo Egon Cayosa in a statement, came after Solicitor General Jose Calida said 19 of the fishermen who had supposedly filed the petition that asked the SC to enjoin the government to implement Philippine environmental laws in Panatag Shoal, Panganiban Reef and Ayungin Shoal said they had nothing to do with it.
Calida’s revelation prompted a suspension of oral arguments on the petition, with lawyers from both sides told to attend a closed-door conference with SC justices.
In the motion, the IBP said it had exerted “diligent efforts” to locate the fishermen, but found some “no longer wish to pursue the case” while some were not in Pag-Asa Island at the time.
The IBP added some could not be contacted.
According to Cayosa, the motion also sought for the discharge of the counsels for the fishermen.
