CAPITOL HILL, Washington — President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. and other world leaders may not be attending today's inauguration of United States President Donald Trump, but Boholano lawyer is attending as part of the legal counsel team for American businessman Timothy Strong.

Lawyer Jordan Pizarras of Tagbilaran City was invited to attend President Trump's inaugural ceremony by no less than US House Majority representative Whip Tom Emmer, a prominent Republican leader and supporter of the strengthened US-Philippine relations.

Emmer’s endorsement of Pizarras’ attendance signals Washington’s commitment to uphold the 2016 ruling of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) arbitral tribunal, that favored the Philippines over China’s nine (or ten)-dash line claims in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) as lacking any legal basis.

Pizarras’ presence in the ceremony likewise highlights a critical intersection of diplomatic and economic interests between Washington and Manila.

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 of the South China Sea (SCS).