This was disclosed by Cebu Rep. Antonio Cuenco, chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Relations, as he sought a consensus among all congressmen on how the chamber should act on House Bill (HB) No. 3216 which could stir a diplomatic controversy between the Philippines and governments claiming ownership of territories in the South China Sea.

Earlier, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) warned Congress that Philippines might lose its claim over the disputed Kalayaan Island Group and Spratlys if it fails to enact a baselines measure before the deadline set by the United Nations (UN).

The UN wants all countries, particularly archipelagos like the Philippines, to submit the laws defining their respective territorial boundaries on or before May 2009.

The House of Representatives had passed HB 3216 on second reading but suddenly put on the brakes for its third and final reading approval reportedly in deference to an appeal by Malacañang which had allegedly noted China’s protest against the proposal.

In a recent media forum, Cuenco disclosed that the House Foreign Relations panel had voted unanimously to push for a recommitment of HB 3216 to the committee for further review of its provisions.

The Cebuano lawmaker said whether or not a motion to recommit will be pursued will be known when the House resumes session next month.

However, he stressed that the best option to take is for House Speaker Prospero Nograles to call for an all-party caucus to discuss the issue.

Cuenco admitted that the baselines proposal had China issuing a strongly-worded warning against the serious diplomatic implications of passing the bill.

He said the Chinese government’s message of displeasure was contained in a note sent to Philippine Ambassador Sonia Brady last December.

To further stress its concern, China sent its charges d’affaires to Cuenco to personally air the misgivings of his government about the second reading approval of HB 3216 which was made before the chamber went on recess last December.

The document entitled "talking points" that the Chinese government sent to Brady warned the Philippine government of the diplomatic implications of allowing the passage of the bill.

HB 3216 defines the archipelagic baselines of the country that includes the islets of Spratly, Kalayaan Group, and Scarborough Shoal which are being claimed by China, Philippines, and Vietnam.

In contrast, detained Sen. Antonio F. Trillanes IV filed Senate Bill 1467 which contains provisions that are being supported by the DFA and are not expected to invite controversy with the Chinese.

The office of Zamboanga Sibugay Rep. Anne Hofer noted that the Trillanes’ bill is an "adaptation in toto" of HB 1202 which proposes to adopt Option 2 that defines the country’s archipelagic baselines as those enclosing the main archipelago and the Scarborough Shoal.

It describes the Kalayaan Island Group as mere regime islands.

It is not known why Trillanes had been assailing Malacañang for blocking the approval of HB 3216 when he shares government’s stand on how the territorial boundaries of the country should be defined.

Senate records indicated that Trillanes and the Arroyo government are pushing for a the same proposed baselines law which the Lower House has junked.

Trillanes filed a bill that apparently contains Malacanang’s definition of what the country’s archipelagic baselines should be.

This definition of the territorial limits of the Philippine archipelago has been rejected by the House Committee on Foreign Affairs which has sponsored HB 3216 in lieu of HB 1202, authored by Cuenco.