impacts of climate change need to monitor, assess, notify the Carbon Majors, and their states, of imminent or on-going human rights violations, and to take further action if deemed necessary. This petition presents an opportunity for the States where the Carbon Majors are incorporated to cooperate with the Philippines, a State profoundly affected by climate change, and specifically with the Honourable Commission in fully investigating this urgent matter. 7. The international law and principles discussed herein form part of the law of the land. The 1987 Constitution provides that the Philippines “adopts the generally accepted principles of international law as part of the law of the land.”116 Relevant to an administrative investigation, the application of international laws specifically in litigating environmental cases has been explained by former Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona. He said: No doubt, the duty of Philippine courts is to give force and effect to the prohibitions, regulations and obligations found in multilateral environmental agreements, whether or not they have been transposed into local laws. 117 This is even more relevant in the light of increasing environmental challenges that are transboundary in nature such as climate change; and where domestic laws are traditionally limited to regulating and addressing problems within national boundaries such as in the Philippines. Therefore, the Petitioners appeal for the Honourable Commission’s wise, novel and courageous investigation to hold accountable the big, powerful, multinational Carbon Majors for the human rights implications of climate change and ocean acidification. !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 116 CONST. art. II, § 2. In a public lecture on environmental law and protection at the Graduate School of the University of Sto. Tomas, Manila, Nov. 20, 2010. 117 ! ! ! ! ! 46 !