Senator Risa Hontiveros has 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 No. 982, Hontiveros said there is a necessity to check if the agreement is true as such action would be tantamount to treason.

“This ‘gentleman's agreement’ is treasonous. While China, in any case, will most likely attack our resupply missions en route to Ayungin, this sham of an agreement only gave Beijing more ammunition to assert her baseless claims,” Hontiveros said in a statement on April 3, Wednesday.

“Kung totoo ang kasunduan, mukhang isinuko nga ni Duterte ang teritoryo ng Pilipinas (If this agreement is true, then it seems Duterte has surrendered Philippine territory),” Hontiveros said.

Hontiveros’ resolution also noted how the National Security Council (NSC) itself is unaware of such agreement.

According to NSC assistant director general Jonathan Malaya, former presidential spokesman Harry Roque, who disclosed about the agreement, should explain the circumstances of the deal and how it was brokered, considering its implications to national security.

“Pati pambansang seguridad natin nalagay sa pahamak dahil sa walang-dangal na ‘gentleman’s agreement’ na yan (Even our national security was put in danger because of that disgraceful 'gentleman's agreement'),” she said.

“China is already all around us – sa telecoms, sa national grid, sa karagatan – at mas lalo lang pinalakas ni Duterte ang Tsina sa kasunduang di umanong pinasukan niya (in telecoms, in our national grid, in our seas—and Duterte made China stronger because of the agreements he entered into),” the lawmaker added.

Hontiveros said the presence of the BRP Sierra Madre in the Ayungin Shoal is an effective reminder of the country’s rights to its own sovereignty in the West Philippine Sea.

“It is our duty to fortify the BRP Sierra Madre. Without it on Ayungin, we effectively give way for China to illegally occupy what is ours,” she said.

“If we stop reinforcing the Sierra Madre, we not only lose a crucial, strategic outpost, but also fail to defend our sovereignty,” Hontiveros emphasized.