Senator Sherwin Gatchalian on Sunday, January 8 expressed doubts that China would be willing to accommodate the Philippines’ demands with regards to the proposed joint oil and gas exploration in the South China Sea even under President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s administration.
Gatchalian, who headed the Senate Committee on Energy during the term of President Rodrigo Duterte, recalled that discussions about the proposed joint exploration between Philippines and China only ended up in an impasse due to the latter’s refusal to agree to the government’s basic terms on the exploration and development of indigenous petroleum resources in the country, which is governed under Presidential Decree No. 87.
“Four years ago, the Duterte administration tried to pursue the joint exploration. In fact, they even created a technical working group (TWG) to discuss the legal issues. I remember the chairman is the DFA (Department of Foreign Affairs) secretary, and the co-chairman is the DOE (Department of Energy chief),” Gatchalian said in Filipino in an interview over Super Radyo DZBB.
“The dialogues did not go anywhere. There was a deadlock as to whose law should be followed,” Gatchalian pointed out.
Gatchalin said credit should also be given to the administration of former President Duterte because the past government was firm in its stand that Beijing should abide by the country’s laws and Constitution.
“Let's remember that before (former foreign affairs) secretary (Teodoro) Locsin (Jr.) stepped down, that's what he said, that it was very difficult to move forward because our minimum requirement is that our Constitution and our law should be followed,” he said.
“And that is still my position: That we must follow our Constitution, follow the law that operationalized it, the PD 87. And that 60 percent of the income goes here to us,” he pointed out.
Gatchalian also said that asking China to recall their ships at the West Philippine Sea before agreeing to a resumption of any talks about joint exploration would be impossible.
“It was already hard to insist on observing our laws and our Constitution. It would be even harder to move the subject from there,” he pointed out.
“That’s why it’s too complicated. For almost four years, the Duterte administraiton tried to agree to a joint exploration but they had difficulty finding a solution to the problem,” the senator said.
“But if the talks will reopen, China already knows our minimum (requirements), so let’s just see whether they will agree to our requests or not,” the lawmaker said.
Nevertheless, Gatchalian said the government should highly consider also entering into a joint exploration agreement with other interested countries, apart from China.
“Because to me, it is also important that we have an exploration there, because our budget is growing, our economy is growing. We are one of the fastest ones, they hear our (GDP) growth is at seven (7) percent, while many other countries are suprisingly only at one percent, the others are even in recession,” he noted.
“So we will still need oil and gas and energy for the next year. That’s why it is important that we still explore the West Philippine Sea. Because I admit that's where the biggest potential is. If we see Malampaya and the other service contracts, it's all there. So we should have an exploration there,” the senator reiterated.
“Our minds are open to (joint exploration) as long as our most basic requirement of constitutional compliance and local law compliance is followed, no matter who it is, whether China, Japan, or Vietnam. The important thing is that they recognize or follow our Constitution and our local laws,” Gatchalian stressed.