THE House of Representatives is propelled by conflicting statements from both the camp of former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte and the Chinese government to investigate the alleged “gentleman’s agreement” concerning the West Philippine Sea (WPS).
House Assistant Majority Leader and Zambales 1st District Rep. Jay Khonghun said that at the forefront of the upcoming inquiry lies a pivotal question: “Who is lying — Duterte or China — regarding the existence of the contentious agreement?”
“It’s crucial to ascertain the truth if indeed the Duterte administration struck such a deal with China,” Khonghun, a member of the “Young Guns” in the House of Representatives, who sought for a congressional probe said.
The alleged agreement, purportedly made during the previous administration, has sparked intense debate, with Duterte now vehemently denying its existence, while China continues to assert the contrary.
“This isn’t just about conflicting narratives; it’s about upholding integrity and accountability,” Khonghun said.
The impending House probe reflects growing concerns over China’s influence in Philippine affairs, particularly in territorial disputes in the WPS.
If proven true, the agreement could have profound implications for the country’s sovereignty and foreign policy.
“We cannot allow uncertainty to cloud our national interests. The Filipino people deserve clarity and honesty from our leaders,” Khonghun said.
He said the House investigation is expected to include hearings and testimonies from relevant parties, including former government officials and diplomatic representatives.
He expressed confidence in the ability of the House to conduct an impartial inquiry into the matter.
“As lawmakers, it is our duty to seek out the truth and hold accountable those responsible for any wrongdoing,” Khonghun stressed.
There is a mounting demand for clarity regarding the alleged “secret” verbal pact recently disclosed by Duterte’s former spokesperson, Harry Roque.
Roque revealed that Duterte and Chinese President Xi Jingpin had agreed to maintain the “status quo” at Ayungin Shoal, where the BRP Sierra Madre had been grounded.
This agreement purportedly included refraining from constructing and repairing installations in the WPS. It also stipulated that only food and water supplies, not construction materials, could be delivered to the troops manning the ship.
Former Sen. Franklin Drilon recalled that then-freshman Sen. Francis Tolentino had initially mentioned the verbal agreement in a privilege speech in July 2019.
Drilon said the context of the privilege speech was that the verbal agreement was valid.
He said Tolentino’s speech aimed to validate the terms of the agreement through proposed legislation.
It will be recalled that in June 2019, Duterte mentioned a verbal fishing agreement with Xi during their bilateral meeting in October 2016.
Malacañang then stated that the agreement aimed to prevent armed confrontation in the WPS, but its coverage and extent remained unclear and were never made public.
Despite calls for a Senate inquiry into the alleged “gentleman’s agreement,” Tolentino argued against it, citing the absence of documentary evidence.
During a recent press conference, Tolentino explained that oral treaties are not considered valid under the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties, implying that the deal’s enforceability was questionable.
The first-term senator likewise explained that his 2019 privilege speech was about “fishing rights, and not about BRP Sierra Madre.”
Duterte’s revelation of the 2016 deal with Xi faced criticism and calls for impeachment for allowing Chinese fishermen to operate within the country’s exclusive economic zone.
The agreement, according to Duterte’s then spokesperson Salvador Panelo, aimed to allow Filipino fishermen to return to Scarborough Shoal, seized by China in 2012.
Fast forward to 2024, Duterte is now retracting his previous statements by denying the existence of a “gentleman’s agreement” with Xi.
However, China remains steadfast in its assertion of such a pact, purportedly made during Duterte’s tenure.
In a recent press conference, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning once again accused the Philippines of encroaching on China’s territory, asserting ownership of Ayungin Shoal — which China refers to as Ren’ai Jiao.
Mao then accused the Philippine government of reneging on its promise to “tow away” BRP Sierra Madre, although Malacañang has already refuted the existence of such a promise.
“The Philippines denies the existence of any gentleman’s agreement reached with China under the Duterte administration and has repeatedly encroached on China’s sovereignty in those waters and instigated provocations,” Mao stated.
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. said he was “horrified” by the supposed “gentleman’s agreement” entered into by his predecessor and the Chinese government regarding the BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal.
“If that agreement says we need to seek permission from another country to be able to do something within our own territory, it would probably be difficult to honor that agreement,” the President said.
“I am horrified by the idea that we have compromised through a secret agreement the territory, the sovereignty and the sovereign rights of the Philippines,” he added.
Marcos emphasized that his administration has no knowledge of any documentation regarding the agreement. Upon assuming office in 2022, they were not briefed on the matter.
While the current administration is in discussions with former officials from Duterte’s term, Marcos lamented, “we still haven’t gotten a straight answer.”
