House Speaker Martin Romualdez (left), former president Rodrigo Duterte (Speaker’s office, Malacañang photo)

Members of former president Rodrigo Duterte's Cabinet will be summoned to the House of Representatives when the chamber begins its investigation on the "gentleman’s agreement" between Duterte and Chinese President Xi Jinping on the West Philippine Sea (WPS). 

Thus, said House Speaker Martin Romualdez in an impromptu press briefing Monday afternoon, April 29 after the plenary session. 

Expressing a desire to "ferret out the truth" regarding the alleged secret deal, Romualdez said that "past officials" would be asked to attend the inquiry in aid of legislation.
 

Asked if these "past officials" will include former president Duterte, Romualdez gave a not-so-definitive response.

"Well we can start off with past officials kasi sila din ang ano, sila din ang dapat nag-execute kung may agreement (because they were the ones who were supposed to execute an agreement, if any)," said the House leader. 

"Siguro yung foreign affairs [secretary] nila, yung executive secretary kung may EO (executive order). At tsaka yung mga nagsalita na merong [agreement]," Romualdez said. 

(Maybe their foreign affairs [secretary], the executive secretary if there's an EO. And those who said that there was an agreement.) 

But Romualdez showed exasperation over the contrary claims of some people within the previous Duterte government that there was actually no Philippine-China pact on the WPS. 

"Nakaka-disappoint din yan eh na may isang gentleman's agreement although, may magsasabing meron, may nagsasabing wala. So dapat malaman natin, ano ba talaga? At ano ba talaga ang kasunduan noon kasi yun po ang ini-invoke ng China ngayon," he said. 

(It's disappointing if there's a gentleman's agreement although, there are those who say there is an agreement and others who say there isn't. So we need to know, what is the truth? And what is really the deal about because China is invoking it now.) 

"Nagbu-budulan sila dyan sa loob ng dating Gabinete (The people from within the previous Cabinet are pulling each other's legs)," Romualdez said. 

As to when the inquiry will take place, Romualdez assured reporters that it will happen before the sine die adjournment of the second regular session on May 22. 

During Monday's plenary session, House Resolution (HR) No.1684 filed by Zambales 1st district Rep. Jefferson Khonghun was read on the floor. The measure's title read, "A resolution to call a thorough investigation in aid of legislation on the reported gentleman's agreement between former president Rodrigo R. Duterte and Chinese President Xi Jinping. 

"There is a necessity to look into such agreement to check if the same is true since it has been used as China's justification of its harassment of Filipino resupply boats--including its use of water cannons on them," read HR No.1684. 

"The s o -called gentleman's greement,' if any, is constitutionally void since it tantamount to the surrender of our country's sovereign rights over oulr exclusive economic zone," the measure added. 

Romualdez declared in his speech during plenary session: " We support President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. In denouncing the secret gentleman’s agreement between former president Rodrigo Duterte and Chinese President Xi Jingpin." 

He likened it to the "surrender of our country's sovereign rights in our exclusive economic zone (EEZ)".