House leader backs Duterte on deal with China
House Senior Minority Leader Joselito Atienza of the party-list group Buhay expressed support for President Rodrigo Duterte’s proposed 60-40 sharing deal with China for resources extracted in the West Philippine Sea.
In a statement, Atienza said the President’s proposal was a “win-win solution.”
He said he appreciated the President’s effort to avoid war “with our superpower neighbor.”
Atienza said he did not believe the proposed deal would violate Philippine sovereignty, calling concerns over the issue as “emotionalism.”
“We do not have the money to explore on our own,” he said.
Another party-list lawmaker, however, called the President’s proposal “treasonous.”
“The intention of President Duterte is clear — to sell and give away our territory,” said Rep. Gary Alejano of the party-list group Magdalo. —Vince F. Nonato
