Hontiveros presses Senate to find truth in 'gentleman's agreement' with China

Senate Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros on Monday raised in plenary the need to uncover the truth behind the "gentleman's agreement" allegedly made by the Duterte administration with China.

She said that the truth is the "best weapon" of the Philippines against the Chinese government's "coercive tactics" in the West Philippine Sea (WPS.)

Hontiveros delivered a privilege speech a month after she filed a resolution to seek an investigation into the alleged deal.

She cited several statements released by the Chinese Embassy in Manila, particularly the latter's claim that the Duterte administration entered into a "gentleman's agreement."

Under the pact, the Philippines supposedly agreed that its vessels and aircraft would refrain from coming closer than 12 nautical miles from Panatag or Scarborough Shoal, and another agreement that the Dutere administration allegedly agreed to not repair or build structures at Ayungin Shoal.

"Why is it important that the Senate exercises oversight over this 'gentlemen's agreement' kahit na sa nakaraang administrasyon pa ito? Because it will have implications moving forward," Hontiveros said.

"Kakapasa lang natin ng Maritime Zones Law which delineates our maritime domains. Can a past President surrender our right to fortify installations within these domains? These are questions that the legislature needs to understand and wrestle with," she explained.

The opposition senator stressed that these agreements should be looked into because these are "serious, potentially divisive, allegations" and that these "effectively diminish our sovereignty by conceding a no-go zone for Philippine ships and aircraft inside our own [Exclusive Economic Zone]."

Further, Hontiveros warned that if the BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal is not repaired, it will fall to wind and wave including the country's control over Reed Bank, which she said is rich in oil and natural gas.

"Our best weapon is the truth, shining a light on the coercive tactics of the Chinese government in the West Philippine Sea... Let us get to the heart of what the Chinese government claims is a 'Gentleman’s Agreement,' and get to the truth by exposing the lies," she said.

Hontiveros likewise stressed the need to hold someone accountable over these supposed agreements with China.

"Ang mas lalong hindi ko maintindihan, 'yung mga nakikipagkasundo sa Beijing bakit di nananagot? Bakit walang parusa para sa kanila? Pati ba yan babalewalain?" she asked.

"I would like to believe that a Philippine president, any Philippine president, would not be capable of selling our country out in such a manner. However, we have heard conflicting reports as to whether an agreement was reached. Iba-iba ang mga sinasabi. Ang gulo. Hindi na natin alam kung ano ang totoo," she emphasized.

Hontiveros also mentioned the recent statement of Chinese Embassy which claimed that China has reached another agreement with the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Department of National Defense, and the National Security Council on a supposed "new model" of engagement over the South China Sea.

"In this information warfare that China wields to her advantage, it becomes even more crucial that we get to the truth. If something has been concealed from the Filipino people, let us bring it to light. If the Chinese government is lying through its teeth, let us expose those lies," she said.

"Tsina ang nag-uumpisa ng lahat ng gulo, maliwanag na sa atin ito. Maliwanag na ito sa buong mundo. Pero hindi ibig sabihin na wala nang pananagutan ang sinumang traydor na Pilipino," she added.

After Hontiveros' privilege speech, Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri belied accusations that the leadership is rejecting and delaying the probe on the supposed agreement with China due to politics.

According to Zubiri, there are insinuations against him, accusing him of being against former President Rodrigo Duterte when he criticizes China.

"Kung tayo ay sumuporta sa ganitong hearing, tayo ay anti-Duterte. No! We support the hearing because we support the sovereignty of our republic. It has nothing to do if you're anti-Duterte, pro-Duterte," Zubiri said.

"Sabihin, oh, we reject the hearings on the West Philippine Sea because it's pamumulitika. Hindi po. Ang nagagalit lang po ako dahil ginagamit nila yung political angle dito sa napaka-klarong issue which is the sovereignty of the West Philippine Sea which is 100% Philippine-owned and we are protecting it," he added.

Zubiri appealed not to "put politics" in the issue of WPS, especially amid the tension with China.

"The Senate, as an independent institution, respects the committee system to be able to independently investigate certain issues regardless of political color. Yan ay napakahalaga. And as your Senate President, I told you I will support you 100%. Doon tayo sa gitna, patas po tayo," he said.

"Nawawala po 'yung issue dahil sa pumumulitika laban sa isang dating Presidente at laban na iyon sa existing or current President," he added.

Zubiri then mentioned that it was the plan of the Committee on Rules to decide on which committee will tackle Hontiveros' resolution today.

"There is no, in any way, there's no such thing or any such thing as we were going to delay this particular hearing...[Majority Leader Joel Villanueva] was just trying to find the right referral to this particular topic," he said.

At the end of the discussion, Majority Leader Joel Villanueva, chairman of the committee on rules which is in charge of referring the measures to the appropriate committees for its deliberations, tasked the Senate committee on foreign relations to tackle Hontiveros' resolution and privilege speech.

The Senate committee on foreign relations is headed by Senator Imee Marcos. —LDF, GMA Integrated News