LAW students from various schools and organizations appealed to President Rodrigo Duterte to protect the West Philippine Sea from foreign intrusion.

They called on the government to present a unified stand on the Chinese incursions in disputed waters, saying that the President’s statements sometimes clash with the actions of the Departments of Foreign Affairs and Defense.

“We strongly demand that the government take immediate and unified action to urge China to respect Philippine sovereignty and jurisdiction,” the organizations said in a joint statement.

“History has long shown us that taking action to resist various forms of foreign invasion and interference in our lands and seas is not impossible,” they added.

The students said that some statements coming from the Palace “place doubt on the integrity of our territorial claims. “

“The inconsistent and confusing pronouncements from the Palace have made defending our territorial integrity burdensome,” they said.

The signatories include the Ateneo Law School Student Council, University of the Philippines Student Government, San Beda University Law Student Government, University of Santo Tomas Civil Law Student Council, Arellano Law Student Government, Ateneo Human Rights Center, Ateneo Society of International Law, Ateneo Law Debate and Advocacy Society, Ateneo Law School Choir, LIBERTAS: The Ateneo Society for the Protection of Civil Liberties, The Palladium, Arellano Chiefs’ Environment Society, Arellano Law Academic Society, Arellano Law Forensic Guild, Arellano Law Gazette, Arellano University Law School Handwriting Advocates, AUSL Bar Operations Commission, and AUSL Athletics Society.