“We expect an award by first quarter of 2016,” Del Rosario said in an interview with cable news ANC.
China declared several times that it will not participate in the process and insists on direct negotiations with the Philippines, but the tribunal still gave Beijing until Dec. 15 to submit a counter-memorial.
Beijing’s non-compliance to the tribunal’s order is expected to fast-track the Philippine case, Del Rosario said, adding the legal process will push through with or without China’s participation.
“If China does not submit their response to our submission, by Dec. 16, the day after, there will be questions that will be given us by the arbitral tribunal. We're supposed to answer these by March and then by July, there will be oral hearings for two weeks,” he explained.
The tribunal will then proceed to issuing its final awards in the next several months after that or on the first quarter of 2016, Del Rosario said.
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