Many excuses from ex-Duterte execs on ‘gentleman’s agreement’, says Marcos

Marcos addressed questions about the alleged gentleman’s agreement between China and former president Rodrigo Duterte, which he called a secret deal, during the press conference. GABRIEL P. LALU/INQUIRER.NET

MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Monday slammed the contradictory stance of former officials of his predecessor Rodrigo Duterte on the supposed gentlemen’s agreement it made with China when it comes to the West Philippine Sea.

“I’ve talked, I’ve tried to get in touch with former officials of the previous administration who could possibly have been involved in these discussions and I have to tell you I haven’t gotten a straight answer out of anyone,” Marcos said during a forum at Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines.

“One party says there is no agreement, another party says there was a talk but only status quo, then the other one will say there was an agreement… It’s all very, maraming palusot (so many excuses),” Marcos also said.

READ: Marcos ‘horrified’ by idea of ‘agreement’ between China, PH on WPS

No such pact

Former presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo reiterated that Duterte himself denied making such a pact with China, contradicting his fellow ex-presidential spokesperson Harry Roque who made the bombshell revelation last month. Panelo was backed by National Security Adviser Eduardo Año, who served as the Armed Forces of the Philippines chief during Duterte’s time, in denying the existence of such a pact.

Marcos, however, was convinced that there is a secret agreement.

READ: Marcos to Duterte: Explain agreement with China on West Philippine Sea

“I don’t think  the Chinese government, I don’t think Beijing will just make up and just out of nowhere say there was a secret agreement when there is no such thing. So I think to my mind that is sufficient to prove to me that there was such an agreement,” Marcos said.

Previously, Marcos said Duterte should clarify what pact he supposedly entered into with China and what he purportedly compromised in that agreement.

Beijing asserts sovereignty in the entire South China Sea, including most of the West Philippine Sea, but their claims have been effectively invalidated by the July 2016 arbitral tribunal ruling that stemmed from a case filed by Manila in 2013.