MANILA — A former University of the Philippines professor has asked the Supreme Court to nullify key provisions of the Philippine Maritime Zones Act (MZA) and Philippine Archipelagic Sea Lanes Act (ASLA), claiming they are unconstitutional and have allowed Chinese vessels to navigate Philippine waters.

In a 157-page petition uploaded on the SC website, petitioner Peter Payoyo also sought to bar the Department of Foreign Affairs from submitting proposals to the International Maritime Organization (IMO) on archipelagic sea lanes. He further requested that the National Mapping and Resource Information Authority be prohibited from delimiting Philippine archipelagic waters or crafting official maps and charts.

Payoyo argued that the laws violate Article I of the Constitution, particularly the Archipelagic Principle, which states: “The waters around, between, and connecting the islands of the archipelago, regardless of their breadth and dimensions, form part of the internal waters of the Philippines.”

He said provisions in ASLA implementing the “right of archipelagic sea lanes passage” for foreign warships are unconstitutional and void, noting that the law effectively abandons the Archipelagic Principle.

The petitioner cited incidents in which Chinese warships, research vessels, and unmanned underwater drones entered Philippine waters after the laws were enacted in November 2024 by President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr.. These included three vessels departing from Xiamen Island toward the Pacific Ocean and passages through northern Philippine waters and the Mindoro Strait in 2025.

Payoyo claimed the Philippine government did not formally protest these entries, which he described as threats to national security under current geopolitical tensions. He also invoked the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), which grants the Philippines the right to require prior permission for marine scientific research in its waters.

The petition names former Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, Foreign Affairs Secretary Theresa Lazaro, and NAMRIA Administrator Peter Tiangco as respondents.

Payoyo’s filing highlights ongoing concerns over the legal and security implications of Philippine maritime laws and their impact on sovereignty amid growing Chinese naval presence.