15-4-2024 (MANILA) The House of Representatives is set to investigate the alleged “gentleman’s agreement” between the previous Duterte administration and China regarding conduct in the contested West Philippine Sea. The move comes amid conflicting statements from the two parties over the existence of such a deal.
House Assistant Majority Leader Jay Khonghun of Zambales stated the inquiry aims to “uncover the truth” behind the purported pact, as former President Rodrigo Duterte and Beijing issued contradictory claims. “Who is lying—Duterte or China—regarding the existence of the contentious agreement?” Khonghun questioned, underscoring the urgency to ascertain facts and uphold accountability.
Duterte asserted on Thursday that he had agreed with Chinese President Xi Jinping to maintain the status quo in the strategic waterway. The former leader claimed the deal involved not bringing construction materials to repair the BRP Sierra Madre ship on Ayungin Shoal, while insisting the Philippines “not conceded anything to China.”
However, the Chinese Embassy in Manila stated the “Agreement was still followed” initially by the current Marcos administration regarding resupply missions to Ayungin. “But since February 2023, the Philippine side has ceased to abide by the Agreement…and kept stirring up trouble to provoke incidents,” the embassy remarked.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has referred to the supposed pact as a “secret” one he was not briefed on during the transition, adding any agreement requiring Philippine permission from China for West Philippine Sea activities would be “difficult to honour.”
Khonghun stressed that if proven true, the deal could have “profound implications for the country’s sovereignty and foreign policy.” He declared, “We cannot allow uncertainty to cloud our national interests. The Filipino people deserve clarity and honesty from our leaders.”
House Deputy Majority Leader Neptali Gonzales termed the alleged agreement “constitutionally void” as it amounts to “surrender of our country’s sovereign rights over our EEZ (exclusive economic zone).” He argued it would be an unenforceable deal without being a formal treaty or executive agreement.
From the Alliance of Concerned Teachers party-list, Rep. France Castro urged Congress to hear their House Resolution 1216 filed early 2023 on the matter. “We must know all that there is to this unpatriotic deal, and the ones responsible should be held accountable. Baka naibenta na pala ni Duterte ang West Philippine Sea ay di pa natin alam (Perhaps Duterte has already sold the West Philippine Sea without our knowledge),” Castro stated.
“We demand full disclosure…The Filipino people have the right to know what compromises were made and what implications these have on our country’s territorial integrity,” she added, echoing calls for transparency from lawmakers scrutinizing the purported backroom pact with Beijing.
