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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Trillanes to Imee: Investigate PRRD's 'secret deal' with China

Trillanes to Imee: Investigate PRRD's 'secret deal' with China

Published Apr 1, 2024 07:09 am

Former senator Antonio Trillanes IV on Monday, April 1, called on Sen. Imee Marcos to conduct an inquiry into former president Rodrigo Duterte's "secret deal" with China for Ayungin Shoal.

Trillanes issued the statement as he posted a video which he said serves as an explainer for Marcos, who chairs the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations to have an idea of his participation in alleviating tensions in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) back in 2012.

He urged the senator to watch the video so she could have a background before talking to the media.

He specifically referred to Marcos' remark during an interview on DZBB that Trillanes and former president Noynoy Aquino were duped in 2012, leading to China's occupation of areas being claimed by the Philippines.

Trillanes explained that during this time, he was officially designated as a "backchannel negotiator" by Aquino to reduce tensions in Scarborough Shoal with negotiations lasting for three months in a total of 14 meetings.

He added that this led to the easing of the situation in Scarborough Shoal by reducing the number of Chinese ships from 80 to 100 ships to just three that were positioned outside of the shoal.

Trillanes said that he considers this his biggest achievement in his career as a public servant.

"Nagawa po ito without surrendering even an inch of our territory. Sa atin pa rin ang Scarborough. In short, na-accomplish ko ang mission ko," he said.

"An invasion or an armed conflict with a regional power was averted through those backchannel talks," he added.

He refuted claims and fake news that he sold the Philippines' rights over Scarborough Shoal to China.

If it were true that he sold it, he said that China could have built structures there by now.

Recently, former Palace spokesman Harry Roque said that former president Duterte had entered into an "gentleman's agreement" with China which was to no longer send more construction materials in the waters still contested by Beijing to prevent tension from further escalating.

Roque's remark came as who promised China that the Philippines would remove the grounded ship remains unanswered.

This, as China had justified its harassment of Filipino troops, including by hitting them with a water cannon, by saying the Philippines did not stand by its promise of towing away Sierra Madre and not sending any more construction materials.

Former Supreme Court Justice Antonio Carpio said Duterte surrendered the Philippines’ sovereign rights over Ayungin Shoal disguised as a “gentleman’s agreement” with Xi.

However, Marcos said that she sees nothing irregular with this deal.

The presidential sister said it is normal for any chief executive to do his part in maintaining the peace and order situation within the country’s maritime territory through verbal agreements.

Related Tags

FORMER PRESIDENT RODRIGO DUTERTE Senator Imee Marcos Scarborough Shoal West Philippine Sea (WPS) antonio trillanes iv Ayungin Shoal
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