DAVAO CITY – Former President Rodrigo R. Duterte has broken his silence and denied making any deal with China over the West Philippine Sea (WPS).
FORMER President Rodrigo Duterte speaks in Davao City about the reported 'gentleman's agreement' with China over the West Philippine Sea as Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez listens. (Ivy Tejano)
“Let me be very clear on this: We have not conceded anything to China,” Duterte said in a press conference in a hotel here on Thursday, April 11.
Duterte said there might have been an exchange of control over the South China Sea to those who are territorial, not involving the encroachment of China in the Exclusive Economic Zone.
The former Chief Executive said they are still studying what they cited earlier which is territorial. He, however, added that there is no such thing as a “gentleman’s agreement.”
Duterte said nobody in the Philippines, the Supreme Court (SC), the Office of the President (OP), or Congress can concede anything about territories.
“Aside from the fact of having a handshake with President Xi Jinping, the only thing I remembered was the status quo. That’s the word – no movement, no armed patrols there,” he said.
Duterte repeated that he only remembered the status quo – as it is where it is – so both countries would not get into trouble. He said he did not even know the Ayungin Shoal.
Ayungin Shoal is a low-tide elevation within the Philippines' 200 nautical mile EEZ, according to the arbitral ruling against China on July 12, 2016.
Duterte’s former spokesperson, Harry Roque, stated that the former Chief Executive verbally agreed with China that the Philippines would not bring materials for fixing the BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal.
“I stand by what I said. You cannot bring in materials for repairs or improvements – none of that,” Duterte said when asked about the accuracy of Roque’s statement.
Duterte criticized former Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonio Carpio for harping about the gentlemen’s agreement.
Carpio said that if Duterte made a deal with China not to maintain the BRP Sierra Madre, the former President acted beyond his authority and gave up the country’s rights.
“What I do not like is even this stupid ex-Justice Carpio is harping on gentlemen’s agreement, of which he was certainly not there,” Duterte said.
He added that Carpio is beginning to expound on the consequences or the result or whatever wrong there was committed in the agreement.
“It would be good, and it would be healthy for Carpio to shut up and not be bothered by things he was not there for,” Duterte said.
Duterte dared President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., who had expressed dismay over the purported gentlemen’s agreement, to address the concern of the BRP Sierra Madre.
China demanded the removal of the BRP Sierra Madre after which Chinese Coast Guard ships blocked and sprayed water cannon on Philippine vessels going to the shoal.
According to China, the Philippines agreed to move the old battleship but Marcos denied it. He said that there was no agreement to remove the grounded vessel.