For Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva, the so-called “gentleman’s agreement" between former president Rodrigo Duterte and China is just a plain, simple propaganda of the Chinese government.

During the Kapihan sa Senado on Tuesday, April 16, Villanueva says he finds it difficult to understand that China will enter into an agreement that no one believes is binding to begin with.

"I mean, all of us knew that it's void, null and void to begin with. And, can you imagine yung China, the Chinese government, hindi ba nila alam to (don't they know this)? Are they that naive na hindi nila alam na pumapasok sila sa isang so-called agreement na hindi naman mapapatupad, na hindi naman ma-ho-honor (that they will enter into a so-called agreement that will never be implemented, that will not be honored)?" he said.

"I really believe so that it's just a plain, simple propaganda of the Chinese government," he added.

It was former Palace spokesman Harry Roque who confirmed that Duterte had entered into an supposed pact with China to no longer send additional construction materials in the waters being contested by Beijing to prevent tension from further escalating.

China had justified its harassment of Filipino resupply boats--including its use of water cannons on them--by saying that the Philippines did not stand by its promise of towing away Sierra Madre and not sending any more construction materials.

Senator Risa Hontiveros has already filed a resolution asking the Senate to look into the supposed “gentleman’s agreement” between the Duterte administration and the Chinese government, which restricted the repair and rehabilitation of the BRP Sierra Madre on Ayungin Shoal.

In filing Senate Resolution (SR) No. 982, Hontiveros underscored the need to find out whether or not the agreement is true. She says the action is tantamount to treason.

Villanueva did not appreciate China's "bullying".

"Lahat nagsasalita na, I mean, lahat, biglang naging eksperto, no? Pakiusap ko lang, konting yuko lang at minsan hindi natin talaga alam lahat eh (Everyone's talking about it, I mean, everyone suddenly became experts, right? I'm appealing to others to give way since we do not know everything). We can learn from each other, we have a pool of experts we can tap, and I'm sure they are in a much, much, much better position to give their views and advise us on what we can do," he said.

"Importante lang na isa lang yung pinaghuhugutan natin lahat (What's important is we are all coming from one place)," he said.

He appealed that whether it's his colleague in the Senate, a legislator, an influencer, or whoever, even if those who are formerly from the government, to refrain from talking about it and just think about how to be united.