Hontiveros urges release of Ayungin ‘new model’ pact evidence

Senator  Risa Hontiveros (Joseph Vidal/Senate PRIB)

MANILA, Philippines – The “evidence” allegedly proving that a Philippine army official reached an agreement with China regarding a “new model” on Ayungin Shoal should be made available to the government, Senator Risa Hontiveros said on Wednesday.

“Kung meron talaga silang recording at kung meron talaga silang transcript, they should at the least make it available to the government — to the Executive, dahil seryosong claim na naman nila yan ng isang new model,” said Hontiveros in a press conference, pertaining to China.

(If they really have a recording and if they really have a transcript, they should at least make it available to the government — to the Executive, because this “new model” is another serious claim by China.)

In an article published May 7, Bloomberg said China might soon release an audio recording allegedly proving that Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Western Command chief Vice Admiral Alberto Carlos “agreed” to a “new model” in handling resupply missions to Ayungin Shoal.

READ: AFP denies Wescom involvement in Ayungin’s ‘new model’

Prior to the exposé, the Department of Foreign Affairs emphasized that only the country’s chief executive can authorize agreements entered into by the Philippine government on matters pertaining to the West Philippine Sea.

READ: DFA: Only PH president can approve agreements on WPS, Ayungin

Amid all these, Hontiveros pressed the need to uncover the truth. She then lamented the severe “information warfare” being waged by China.

“Dahil ganito rin ang information at influence operations na wine-wage nila, lalong dapat nating pagpursigihan to get at the truth and to uncover what is just smoke and mirrors sa kanilang ginagawa,” said Hontiveros.

(Because they are waging this kind of information and influence operations, we must strive to get at the truth and uncover what is just smoke and mirrors of what they are doing.)

In the end, she noted that “the only model” she recognizes is under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

“The last I heard, the only model is yung pagkapanalo natin sa Hague tribunal. And the latest I heard, ang pinakabagong bahagi ng solo at totoong model ay yung kapapasa lang namin na Maritime Zones Act,” said Hontiveros.

(The last I heard, the only model is our victory at the Hague tribunal. And the last I heard, the newest solo and real model is our recently-passed Maritime Zones Act.)

In 2013, the Philippines challenged China’s assertions before the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, Netherlands.  The arbitral tribunal ruled overwhelmingly in favor of the Philippines in 2016. Despite this ruling, Chinese maritime assets continue to swarm and assert aggression in the territory.