Padilla wants resumption of talks between Philippines, China on joint oil, gas exploration

Senator Robinhood "Robin" Padilla has filed a resolution urging President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. to resume talks with China regarding the joint oil and gas exploration in the West Philippine Sea.

Padilla's Senate Resolution No. 9 aims to address the problems brought by the soaring prices of petroleum products due to the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. In his resolution, he cited the Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation on Oil and Gas Development between the Philippines and China dated November 20, 2018.

"Now therefore, be it resolved, as it is hereby resolved, urging President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to resume the bilateral talks with the People's Republic of China for the purposes of cooperation on oil and gas development in the West Philippine Sea," the resolution read.

"The Philippines requires a long-term strategy to resolve its oil dependency from foreign sources as the country is vulnerable to the negative effect of the skyrocketing oil prices dictated by the world market's reaction to the Russia-Ukraine conflict," he added.

Padilla said the Marcos administration has the opportunity to resume the bilateral talks with China for purposes of cooperation in the West Philippine Sea on oil and gas development "without bargaining the sovereign rights of the Philippines on the disputed territories."

Former Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. earlier disclosed the termination of Manila's joint oil exploration discussions with Beijing due to Constitutional constraints and issues on the country’s sovereignty.

Padilla said the deal that was terminated "does not pose any derogation to the Philippines' assertion of its sovereign rights in the West Philippine Sea."

"The parties further understand that the MOU shall not be prejudicial to 'respective legal positions' which 'does not create rights or obligations under international or domestic law' and as such, there is no derogation of the Philippines' assertion of its sovereign rights in the West Philippine Sea," Padilla said.

In November 2018, the Philippines and China signed the MOU wherein both governments agreed to establish an intergovernmental joint steering committee to look into possible energy cooperation.

The MOU also provides that each working group from the two countries "will consist of representatives from enterprises authorized by the two governments."

GMA News Online has sought the Palace for comment on the matter but it has yet to reply as of posting time. — RSJ, GMA News