jiliko Boholano lawyer to attend Trump inauguration as legal counsel

TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol — A Boholano lawyer will be among the few Filipinos attending the inauguration of United States President-elect Donald Trump on Jan. 20.

Lawyer Jordan Pizarras, a native of Tagbilaran City, Bohol and now based in Makati, will attend the inauguration as part of the legal counsel team for American businessman Timothy Strong.

The invitation to Pizarras was extended by US House Majority Whip Tom Emmer, a prominent Republican leader and supporter of strengthened US-Philippine relations.

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READ: Inauguration Day, Trump-style: What will happen?

Auction results showed that the Bureau of the Treasury made a full award of P15 billion in reissued T-bonds, which have a remaining life of six years and nine months.

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Emmer’s endorsement of Pizarras’ presence at the historic inauguration signals Washington’s commitment to upholding the 2016 ruling of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) Arbitral Tribunal, which declared China’s nine-dash line claims in the West Philippine Sea as lacking any legal basis.

Pizarras’ attendance at Trump’s inauguration also highlights a critical intersection of diplomatic and economic interests.

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Legal experts and analysts view this as a strategic move to reinforce international support for the Philippines in asserting its territorial and economic rights in the contested waters.

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Pizarras said the invitation underscores the United States’ commitment to strengthening ties with the Philippines, particularly on shared concerns over China’s maritime claims in the West Philippine Sea.

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Strong, a significant shareholder of PXP Energyjiliko Corporation, is at the helm of efforts to develop Service Contract 72 (SC 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 UNCLOS.

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The Reed Bank basin is estimated to contain approximately 3.9 trillion cubic feet of natural gas, including the Sampaguita gas field, which alone holds around 2.6 trillion cubic feet of gas.

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Experts estimate the field’s reserves could last over 100 years, with an estimated value exceeding $500 trillion. Such resources could significantly bolster the Philippines’ energy security and provide a vital boost to its economy.

The development of SC 72 has been hindered by a moratorium on exploration imposed in December 2014 due 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 resuming 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 region remain a point of contention.

As the Trump administration prepares to take office, the Philippines is poised to leverage its renewed partnership with the United States to assert its claims in the West Philippine Sea and unlock the economic potential of its natural resources.

READ: Arctic blast forces Trump inauguration indoors

The lifting of the SC 72 moratorium, if realized, would not only affirm the Philippines’ rights under international law but also pave the way for significant economic development.

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PXP Energy, through its subsidiary Forum GSEC, remains committed to working with the government to responsibly develop this strategic resource.

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