Colmenares dares Panelo: Release official copy of Chico River irrigation deal

Senatorial candidate Neri Colmenares on Sunday dared presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo to release the official copy of the deal struck between the Philippines and China on an irrigation project and he will question it in court.

Colmenares made the remark in response to Panelo's statement that he should go to court instead in questioning the Philippine-China agreement on the Chico River Irrigation Pump Project.

Colmenares alleged that the Philippines agreed to make the document confidential, and that it cannot be given to a third party.

"Ang hamon kay Secretary Panelo, bigyan mo kami ng official copy and we will go to court using that. Alam niya kasi bilang abogado na hindi kami pwedeng pumunta sa korte using a leaked document na photocopy," Colmenares told reporters.

Panelo, earlier in the day, insisted that the government's economic managers have already adequately responded to the issues Colmenares is raising on the irrigation project.

"If he is not satisfied with our responses he is free to go to the courts... and we will be happy to oblige him there," Panelo said.

Panelo added that the debate challenge that Colmenares also issued against only further attracts media attention to bolster his senatorial campaign.

But Colmenares insisted that bringing up the issue on the irrigation-project deal is not for media mileage.

He pointed out that as early as 2008, a non-election year, he was already fighting for the Philippines' rights and sovereignty over the West Philippine Sea.

In 2008, Colmenares acted as one of the petitioners against the Joint Marine Seismic Undertaking (JMSU) in 2004.

Colmenares said the JMSU is unconstitutional as it violates the National Economy and Patrimony provisions of the 1987 Constitution.

Until now, the Supreme Court has not yet acted upon the petition, Colmenares said.

"I'd like to get this opportunity to call on the Supreme Court, desisyunan niyo na 'yung 2008 petition namin. 10 years na 'yan, lampas pa," he said.

"Walang eleksyon nung 2008, kaya hindi masasabi ni Secretary Panelo na pang-eleksyon ito," he added. — Erwin Colcol/BM, GMA News