Senator Risa Hontiveros is now pushing for a Senate inquiry into the supposed “provisional understanding” between the Philippine government and China regarding resupply missions to Ayungin Shoal.

Senator Risa Hontiveros (Senate PRIB photo)

Hontiveros, in filing Senate Resolution No. 589, said there is a need for the public to know about the existence of such an agreement between the two governments in light of China’s continued aggression in the area.

“The only question is, is this agreement working? Because if it is to prevent trouble and protect our soldiers, why do they continue to be harmed while they are just doing their job?” Hontiveros said.

“The Senate needs to see exactly what was agreed upon, and whether the Philippines is actually benefitting from it,” the senator pointed out.

In her resolution, Hontiveros cited the string of incidents that casts doubt on the effectivity of the deal, including a June 2024 confrontation that cost a Filipino sailor his thumb, a March 2026 incident in which a fire-control radar was directed at Philippine Navy frigate BRP Miguel Malvar, and a July 2026 attack at Ayungin itself in which a Philippine Navy personnel was struck with a wooden baton and had to be medically evacuated.

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) claimed that the deal is meant to avoid miscalculation during Philippine missions to the BRP Sierra Madre, and does not require the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to seek China’s permission or allow Chinese boarding of Philippine vessels.

But Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro has said no such deal exists.

“The DFA cannot claim there is an agreement while the DND says there isn’t. These are the agencies responsible for our foreign relations and national defense. It needs to be clear to both of them—and especially to our soldiers on the ground—what our policy actually is,” she said.

“This deal is supposed to calm our waters. Instead, our soldiers keep coming home injured. Either the agreement isn’t working, or it was never designed to protect us in the first place,” she added.

“I am not saying that information truly sensitive to national security needs to be disclosed. But confidentiality cannot be used to hide from the public an agreement that affects our territory, our rights, and the lives of those we send there,” Hontiveros said.

In filing the resolution, Hontiveros also invoked the Constitution’s guarantee of full public disclosure of government transactions involving public interest, particularly one affecting jurisdiction over the country’s maritime zones, sovereign rights, and the safety of Filipino personnel.

“The West Philippine Sea issue is not something we can afford to negotiate in the dark. We do not need to escalate the conflict. But we need to be clear and firm,” Hontiveros said.

“Let us find out what has been agreed upon, improve coordination among our agencies, and ensure that no Filipino soldier is sent on a mission without a clear plan for their protection. We should not be groping in the dark within our own waters,” she stressed.

“The Filipino people have every right to know about what is being decided in our name, in our waters,” the lawmaker reiterated.