Hontiveros files resolution for probe into Duterte-China WPS deal

FILE PHOTO: Senate Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros during a public hearing on May 18, 2023. Hontiveros filed Senate Resolution No. 982, which calls for the upper chamber’s investigation of the “gentleman’s agreement” that former President Rodrigo Duterte supposedly entered into with China regarding the West Philippine Sea. (Joseph Vidal/Senate PRIB)

MANILA, Philippines — Senator Risa Hontiveros moved for the upper chamber’s investigation of the “gentleman’s agreement” that former President Rodrigo Duterte supposedly entered into with China regarding the West Philippine Sea.

Hontiveros, in her proposed Senate Resolution No. 982, said that if Duterte’s deal with China is proven true, the former chief executive’s action is tantamount to a surrender of the Philippines’ sovereignty and hence, “treasonous.”

“This ‘gentleman’s agreement’ is treasonous. While China, in any case, will most likely attack our resupply missions en route to Ayungin, this sham of an agreement only gave Beijing more ammunition to assert her baseless claims,” Hontiveros said in a statement Wednesday.

“Kung totoo ang kasunduan, mukhang isinuko nga ni Duterte ang teritoryo ng Pilipinas,” she also said.

(If the agreement is true, Duterte seems to have surrendered the territory of the Philippines.)

READ: Ex-President Duterte, China had deal to keep WPS status quo – Roque

Hontiveros continued: “Pati pambansang seguridad natin nalagay sa pahamak dahil sa walang-dangal na ‘gentleman’s agreement’ na ‘yan.”

(Even our national security has been put in danger because of that dishonorable “gentleman’s agreement.”)

“China is already all around us – [in] telecoms, national grid, karagatan – at mas lalo lang pinalakas ni Duterte ang Tsina sa kasunduang ‘di umanong pinasukan niya,”  she addded.

(China is already all around us – in telecoms, national grid, oceans – and Duterte only strengthened China even more with the agreement he allegedly entered into.)

READ: Carpio: Duterte gave up PH right over Ayungin in an agreement w/ China

Former Duterte spokesperson Harry Roque earlier claimed that the ex-president’s “verbal agreement” with China indicated that the Philippines may only deliver water and food to BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal – not construction materials for the grounded ship’s repair.

But Roque’s exposé was denied by former presidential adviser Salvador Panelo, who claimed that Duterte “did not enter” any deal with China regarding the West Philippine Sea.

In an interview with SMNI on Monday, Panelo said he talked to Duterte twice during Holy Week and the former chief executive categorically denied having made such a pact with China.

“I’ve been avoiding that Ayungin Shoal like a hot potato because I know it’s a very hot topic, so I did not make an agreement with anyone,” Panelo said in a mix of English and Filipino, quoting Duterte.

Panelo likewise claimed that whoever is spreading that such an agreement exists is lying, adding that that person probably wants “publicity for himself.”

Hontiveros, nevertheless, maintained it is the Filipinos’ duty to fortify BRP Sierra Madre.

“Without it on Ayungin, we effectively give way for China to illegally occupy what is ours. If we stop reinforcing the Sierra Madre, we not only lose a crucial, strategic outpost, but also fail to defend our sovereignty,” she pointed out.