Senators to scrutinize PHL-China oil and gas exploration agreement

Senators vowed to scrutinize the joint maritime oil and gas exploration deal with China signed by the Duterte administration even if they hold differing views on how the agreement would effect the country.

Senate President Vicente Sotto III said it is about time for a joint exploration because the Philippine government cannot do it on its own.

“It’s about time kasi hindi natin kaya on our own. Bakit lahat ng kapitbahay natin ay merong langis, ‘di ba? Impossble naman na nagbato ang Diyos ng langis sa Asya, ang Pilipinas lang ang iniwasan. Imposible, kaya tiyak na meron. Ngayon, ang problema, hindi natin kaya mag-isa,” Sotto told reporters.

“I’m keeping my fingers crossed. Kasi that’s the only way na talagang ma-solve na lahat ng problema natin sa langis, sa petrolyo. Ang ekonomiya natin, sigurado, boom,” he added.

He said the Senate can always conduct a hearing to review the joint exploration.

“Wala namang problema kung ireview natin, buti nga ‘yon para malinawan. As long as hindi tayo nambabara. Ang Senado neutral tayo dito, kung anong mabuti para sa bansa, doon tayo,” he said.

The Senate President said he is privy to the joint exploration talks.

“Memorandum of understandung pa lang ‘yong pinag-uusapan nila, and I’m privy to it. I just cannot disclose where and how. I’m privy to the proposal that was agreed upon by the President. And ... there are already talks with China, more or less. It seems to be very positive ang response na kung mgakakaroon tayo ng joint exploration,” he said.

Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri said the agreement could be a win-win move “because right now we are in the golden age of Philippine-Chinese friendship, we should focus on friendship and trade rather than picking fights, rather than making derogatory statements.”

“Because of the close political friendship, wala na tayong problema sa intrusion and harassment of fishermen, and trade between the two countries had never been this strong,” he told reporters when asked about the matter.

Asked if the agreement will have any impact on the claim of the Philippines in the Spratlys, Zubiri said he is not a lawyer but he believes that the legal luminaries of Malacañang has discussed the matter and will not allow the country to be at a disadvantage.

“Definitely, hindi naman tayo papayag na malugi tayo. I’m sure President Duterte will not agree na malugi ang Pilipinas kung meron mang development sa area,” he said.

Zubiri said the Senate can always ask the executive branch for documents on joint exploration.

Senator Grace Poe said the government must disclose to the public whatever agreement it entered into, to see if there are potentials for red flags or if there are elements that would put the country at a disadvantage.

“Dapat lang. Obligasyon nila ‘yun na maging malinaw para sa taumbayan at sa ibang mga ahensya ng gobyerno kung ano ba ang pinasok nila,” she said.

At the end of the day, it is the people’s money that would pay for all the projects, thus the people should have a say, said Poe.

“Hindi naman masamang makipagkasunduan. Siguraduhin lang natin na hindi tayo maiisahan,” she said.

Senator Francis Escudero said the Senate cannot stop the joint exploration but it can always look into the agreement.

“Lahat pwedeng tignan, imbestigahan. Pero walang kapangyarihan ang Kongreso na pigilan o itigil ‘yan nang hindi dumaraan sa husgado,” he said.

“Magkakaroon naman yata ng pagdinig at sa budget papasok pa lang ang plenary debates. Tiyak ko na isa ‘yan sa itatanong sa Executive department na haharap sa Senado ...” Escudero added.

A joint exploration would set the record straight if there is indeed oil or gas deposit in that part of the country, the senator noted.

“Para sa akin, magandang paraan ‘yun para makita natin kung may laman ba ‘yun o wala, at kung wala e malay mo umalis at iwanan na lang ng China ‘yan,” he said. 

For her part, Senator Risa Hontiveros said the Senate must lead the initiative to scrutinize the agreement “given that it has material interest in ensuring that the foreign policy adopted by the Executive is in the best interest of Filipino citizens.”

She said President Duterte failed to assert the country’s sovereignty and the Constitution after he signed the framework agreement on joint maritime oil and gas exploration.

“Dehadong-dehado ang Pilipinas sa kasunduan. If the leaked copy of the agreement is proven authentic, President Duterte signed a document that did not assert our Constitution and sovereignty in the West Philippine Sea against China’s discredited nine-dash line, which lays claim to every shoal, reef and islet in the region,” she said.

Hontiveros called on the executive branch to divulge the full details of the deal together with 28 other agreements signed by the Philippine government with China during Chinese President Xi Jinping’s state visit on November 20 to 22.

“The people need to scrutinize all these documents. We need to know whether or not these agreements are compatible with our sovereign and territorial interests and in full compliance with our international obligations, particularly the arbitral tribunal ruling on the West Philippine Sea,” she said. —VDS, GMA News