Hontiveros: Duterte prioritized China before PH’s national interest

Senate Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros Senate PRIB file photo / Joseph Vidal

MANILA, Philippines —Former president Rodrigo Duterte’s “agreement” with China was no surprise to Senator Risa Hontiveros, saying that the former chief executive “never accorded” the historic arbitral ruling with respect and reverence.

READ: Ex-President Duterte-China ‘agreement’ on Ayungin bared, jeered

In a statement on Monday, Hontiveros said Duterte prioritized his relationship with China “before our national interest” during his administration.

“Harry Roque’s revelations are not all that surprising. Duterte also never accorded our 2016 Arbitral Award its much-deserved respect and reverence,” said Hontiveros.

“Kaya hindi kataka-taka na kung ano-anong “gentleman’s agreement” ang pinasok niya,” she emphasized.

(It’s no longer surprising that he entered this kind of gentleman’s agreement.)

‘Political amnesia’

Former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque, however, accused Hontiveros of “suffering from political amnesia,” pointing out that Duterte mentioned the historic arbitral ruling in his address before the UN General Assembly (UNGA).

“The decision was rendered during the administration of former President Rodrigo Duterte. He spoke and declared this as part of the international law before the UNGA. As to [President Marcos’] rescission, that referred to the alleged promise to remove [BRP] Sierra Madre, which was not made by Duterte,” Roque said in a text message to INQUIRER.net.

Roque said Marcos could rescind the gentleman’s agreement on the status quo, but he also left a question: which is the better policy?

“One that led to relative peace and increased trade and investments, or now when we’re at the brink of war?” said Roque.

To recall, on separate occasions during his presidency, Duterte said he would not press China to adhere to the United Nations’ arbitral ruling over the West Philippine Sea despite the latter’s alleged installation of military weapons on its artificial islands built on the disputed sea.

Duterte categorically stated that he “will not impose anything on China” because the politics in Southeast Asia is changing. Instead, he demanded that US forces leave the Philippines.

In 2021, Duterte likewise claimed that the victory of the Philippines over China at the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague was just a “piece of paper”  to be thrown away.

“In the language of hoodlums, I will tell you, give it to me and I will tell you. That’s just paper. I will throw that away in the wastebasket,” said Duterte then.

Hontiveros, on the other hand, maintained that despite Duterte’s agreement with China, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. — the current chief executive – has already ‘“rescinded any concession that was made.”

“The BRP Sierra Madre should remain on Ayungin. Our troops have been risking their lives to guard that ship. Let’s not ignore their hard work and sacrifice,” she emphasized in a mix of English and Filipino.

‘No promises to remove BRP Sierra Madre’

In a separate statement issued Monday, Senator Jinggoy Estrada reiterated that no promise to tow away BRP Sierra Madre has been made during his father’s tenure.

READ: Jinggoy: There’s no deal to remove BRP Sierra Madre during my father’s tenure

“Insofar as the removal of the BRP Sierra Madre, this much I could say and I could speak on behalf of my father, the former President Joseph Estrada: there was no agreement. The statement about this is all speculation because even the former defense and security officials who served under my father’s leadership have already debunked these claims,” said Estrada in a mix of English and Filipino.

Estrada then noted that he is not in a position to question Duterte’s verbal agreement with China.

“A decision of such importance would have gone through a thorough policy-making process. I’m confident that our national sovereignty, territorial integrity, and national interest would have been given top priority,” he said.