President Marcos told former president Rodrigo Duterte that he was willing to sit down with him to talk about his alleged secret deal with Chinese President Xi Jinping on the West Philippine Sea.

Marcos said this after China confirmed that the so-called gentleman’s agreement was made during the administration of his predecessor.

In an interview with Manila-based reporters in Washington, DC, the President said he wanted to clarify if there really was such an agreement, its supposed contents, and why it is claimed to have been kept in secrecy.

“So, now, with the confirmation of the Chinese Embassy, we now know that there was a secret agreement. Now, the second question that I have, is what is contained in the second agreement?” he told reporters on Friday, April 12.

“Ano ba ang pinangako ng Duterte administration sa China? Ngayon lang tayo nakakatiyak na mayroon talagang, mayroon pala talagang agreement (What did the Duterte administration promise China? It’s only now that we are sure that there really was an agreement),” he said.

“Tawag nila is gentleman’s agreement, tawag ko diyan, secret agreement (They call it a gentleman’s agreement, I call it a secret agreement)," he added.

According to Marcos, he is baffled by the “secret agreement" that his predecessor is allegted to have made with Xi over the Ayungin Shoal. He is wondering why Duterte, an experienced lawyer, decided not to document, record, or announce the agreement.

He said he is ready to sit down with Duterte to discuss foreign policy and the agreements entered into by the government in connection with the South China Sea.

It was reported that the former leader is said to be reviewing all the agreements entered into with China by his administration.

“Send them to me and then we’ll sit down. Send those documents to me. And then I’ll sit down and discuss it. I’ll do my homework for him,” Marcos said.

“So send me the materials, personally to me. Marami kaming common na kaibigan (We have many common friends). Send them to me. Pag-aralan ko. Mag-usap kami kung gusto n’ya (I’ll study them. We’ll talk if he wants to),” he added.

According to the President, he disagrees with the idea of entering into a secret agreement with China that could compromise the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

“Any agreement with another sovereign state should be known by the people, by the elected officials, and by the Senate, which ratifies treaties entered into by the government,” he said.

“It should be known by the local officials. It should be known by everyone. Because in that way you can… you are accountable. If it’s a bad decision, you’re accountable,” he added.

President Marcos also brushed off Duterte’s criticism of naval patrols in the West Philippine Sea, saying it has “no place in this very important and very precarious discussion.”

“I don’t pay any attention to that,” he said.