MANILA, Philippines — Bringing up the arbitral ruling on the West Philippine Sea row during the United Nations General Assembly would be a "futile exercise" because the international body cannot enforce it, Malacañang said Wednesday.

Former Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario has urged the Duterte administration to talk about the Philippines' legal victory against China during the 74th regular session of the UN General Assembly this month.

Del Rosario said the assembly would be an excellent opportunity for the Philippines to move forward its position on The Hague ruling, which invalidated Beijing's expansive maritime claim and upheld Manila's sovereign rights over its exclusive economic zone.

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The country's former top envoy said the Philippines could present a case for the UN "to reassert that right is might and the rule of law must be upheld."

He noted that Nicaragua had asked the UN to require the United States to adhere to a ruling by the International Court of Justice.

But presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo claimed Del Rosario's approach might not work.

"For one, it’s futile exercise. Why? because UN has no enforcement force," he said.

"He is citing the case of Nicaragua. Did anything happen there? None. It remained the same," he added.

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Panelo said President Rodrigo Duterte finds his present approach on China effective.

"There is impasse but the talks are still ongoing. At the same time, he negotiates with respect to other areas of concern mutually beneficial to both (countries)," he added.

China has refused to recognize the arbitral ruling but has expressed readiness to hold bilateral negotiations with the Philippines.

Panelo said there would be no significant impact even if Foreign Affairs Secretary Teddy Locsin Jr. talks about the arbitral ruling during the UN assembly in New York.

Locsin is scheduled to address the international body on September 28.

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