Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte with Chinese President Xi Jinping. (File photo from a Twitter post by Hua Chunying)
MANILA, Philippines — Former President Rodrigo Duterte made a verbal agreement with China when he was still in power to maintain the status quo in the West Philippine Sea, according to ex-presidential spokesperson Harry Roque.
Roque clarified, however, that the agreement—which called for the Philippines to refrain from constructing and repairing installations in the area—was non-binding and could not apply during President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s tenure.
“[It’s] verbal and, hence, not binding on PBBM [President Bonbong Marcos]. Agreement on status quo,” Roque said in a text message to INQUIRER.net.
He made it clear, however, that this deal was not about China’s claim that a former president supposedly agreed to remove BRP Sierra Madre from Ayungin Shoal.
“That’s very different. PRRD [President Rodrigo Roa Duterte] never agreed to remove [BRP] Sierra Madre. They had a gentleman’s agreement that both sides will maintain [the] status quo,” Roque noted.
Roque made the admission of a deal between Duterte and China after the resupply mission to troops stationed at Ayungin Shoal was water cannoned by Chinese Coast Guard vessels.
The incident caused heavy damage to the resupply boats.
READ: PH vessel sustains ‘heavy damage’ in Chinese coast guard attack
In an interview with Politico, Roque said the reason China was attacking Philippines vessels with water cannons was that it might have misunderstood that the gentleman’s agreement would be applicable under Marcos’ terms.
Duterte has been accused by opposition figures of being the president who promised to remove BRP Sierra Madre, which was deliberately run aground Ayungin Shoal to act as a military outpost.
Other past presidents, namely Joseph Estrada and Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, have categorically denied it.
Lawmakers have urged Duterte to speak up as to whether or not there was a deal with China to withdraw the BRP Sierra Madre.
ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. France Castro asked the House of Representatives leadership to schedule hearings on the issue.
READ: Castro asks House to have hearings on alleged promise to remove BRP Sierra Madre
READ: Tulfo: Ask Duterte if there was a deal with China on BRP Sierra Madre
But Duterte’s allies and former officials have maintained that the former president was not involved in the deal.
In August 2023, Sen. Robin Padilla said Duterte’s ex-executive secretary, Salvador Medialdea, said that there was no deal between Duterte and China about removing the Philippine Navy ship.
READ: No Duterte – China deal on removal of BRP Sierra Madre from Ayungin Shoal — Sen. Padilla
Then, last March 19, Salvador Panelo, another former presidential spokesperson, said it would only be “a waste of time” to investigate the supposed deal because it is not true.
READ: Duterte-China ‘deal’ on Ayungin ship probe ‘a waste of time’ – Panelo