Trillanes claims backchannel talks with China a confidential mission from PNoy

No less than President Benigno Aquino III sent Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV to hold backchannel talks with China to resolve a territorial dispute that had simmered since April.

 

Trillanes made this claim in a radio interview Wednesday, where he said he was sent on a “confidential mission” that resulted in the easing of tension in the disputed area.

 

“I got into this mission as an envoy of the President... so confidential mission,” Trillanes told dzBB radio in an interview. GMA News Online is still getting the reactions of Malacañang and the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on the senator's statements as of posting time.

 

Trillanes said Beijing acknowledged his role as an envoy. He also indicated he was involved in at least 15 meetings on the matter, but said he was not at liberty to divulge further details. Trillanes, a former Navy officer who faced rebellion and coup d' etat charges during the Arroyo administration, got his temporary freedom in December 2010. He had been in jail since the July 2003 Oakwood mutiny, but won a Senate seat during the 2007 polls.  In January 2011, he applied for amnesty, which was approved the same month. Confusion?

 

Asked in the radio interview if his talks with China caused confusion in Beijing on who to deal with, Trillanes said it did not.

 

“Alam nila may backchannel at formal channel,” he said.

 

Pressed further if he went abroad during his mission, he indicated he went to China, but added he is still not at liberty to disclose further details of his efforts.

 

The row between the Philippines and China at Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal started last April when Philippine forces spotted Chinese fishermen gathering marine species in the area.

 

When Philippine forces tried to make arrests, Chinese ships blocked their path.

 

On the other hand, Trillanes chided Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario for insinuating he torpedoed diplomatic efforts to resolve the row.

 

“Hindi ko ito nilabas sa Senado. Ito nilabas, binira ako ng DFA. Sa akin ano ba, tapos na ang problema,” he said.

 

Trillanes indicated that his efforts resulted in the easing of tensions in the disputed area.

 

“Kayo na ang humusga, nasa media kayo. Meron pa ba tension? Silipin ninyo ang Scarborough, wala ng barko riyan, I don’t know what they are talking about,” he said.

 

He also said Del Rosario could be to blame on why Aquino and Chinese President Hu Jintao failed to meet at the sidelines of the recent Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meeting in Russia.

 

“Scheduling problem, that’s too petty,” he said.

 

Still, he maintained he had nothing personal against Del Rosario. — RSJ/KG, GMA News