FILIPINO lawyer Jordan Pizarras, counsel to American businessman Timothy Strong, will be among the few Filipinos to attend the inauguration of US President Donald Trump on January 20.
The invitation underscores the United States’ commitment to strengthen ties with the Philippines, particularly on shared concerns over China’s maritime claims in the West Philippine Sea.
Strong, a significant shareholder of PXP Energy Corporation, is at the helm of efforts to develop Service Contract 72 , located in the Reed Bank-Recto Bank basin, west of Palawan Island. PXP Energy, a London-listed company, secured the rights to explore the energy-rich SC 72 concession, which lies within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone as defined under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea .THE Reed Bank basin is estimated to contain approximately 3.
The development of SC 72 has been hindered by a moratorium on exploration imposed in December 2014 owing to a force majeure caused by heightened tensions with China. This moratorium remains in effect until the Department of Foreign Affairs authorizes its lifting, but recent recommendations by the Department of Energy signal progress toward resumption of exploration activities.
The tribunal further affirmed the Philippines’ sovereign rights over the Reed Bank and ruled that China’s operations in the area were unlawful. However, China’s continued activities in the area remain a point of contention.Pizarras’ attendance at Trump’s inauguration highlights a critical intersection of diplomatic and economic interests.
“This is more than a symbolic gesture,” noted a political analyst. “It signifies a potential shift in the geopolitical balance and the strengthening of the US-Philippine alliance in countering China’s maritime ambitions.”
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