Ask Duterte to ‘gentleman’s agreement’ probe? Best to get info from horse’s mouth, says Risa

For Senate Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros, it would be best to hear from Rodrigo Duterte himself about the supposed "gentleman's agreement" allegedly brokered by the former president with China.

The lawmaker, who has sought a Senate inquiry into the matter, was asked in a press conference if the former president should be invited as a resource person in the hearing.

"Hindi ko naman masabing gusto ko silang makita, pero ang trabaho po ng komite at ng Senado ay kunin as much as possible first-hand primary source straight from the horse's mouth, ika nga, ng mga totoong kaganapan, ang katotohanan sa subject ng aming mga imbestigasyon dahil din, in aid of legislation," Hontiveros said.

(I can't say that I would like to see him, but the job of the committee and the Senate is to get as much first-hand information from a primary source, straight from the horse's mouth, so the speak, about what really happened in the matter that is the subject of our investigation, in aid of legislation.)

Duterte's former Palace spokesperson Harry Roque said that the Duterte administration had entered into a "gentleman’s agreement" with China barring the Philippines from sending repair materials to the Sierra Madre, a rusting Philippine Navy vessel intentionally grounded at the shoal to maintain a military presence there.

President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. said he was "horrified" by the prospect of such an agreement and said he wanted to know what was agreed upon in the supposed deal.

National Security Adviser Eduardo Año, who was Interior secretary during Duterte's term, denied that there was such an agreement.

Hontiveros said it is up to Senate foreign relations committee chairperson Imee Marcos to finalize the list of resource persons to be invited in the inquiry.

The lawmaker said there is a need to ask if a former president is capable of betraying the nation's interest.

"Kailangan naming tanungin, ang isang dating presidente ba, kahit ayokong maniwala na kahit sinong presidente ay kayang ipagkanulo ang pambansang interest natin? Kailangan naming itanong, ang isang dating presidente ba, pwede niyang obligahin ang lahat ng mga susunod na presidente, ‘di umanong architects of foreign policy na hayaang maagnas na lang sa hangin at sa tubig ng Ayungin Shoal ang isang BRP Sierra Madre at mawala na lang, mabura, ang sa ngayon pinaka-importanteng sovereignty marker natin sa West Philippine Sea?" she said.

(We need to ask: can a former president—even though I don't want to believe that any president can betray our national interests—oblige all the other presidents, the architects of foreign policy, to let the BRP Sierra Madre decay from the wind and the sea of Ayungin Shoal and to dissolve, to disappear? Our most important sovereignty marker in the West Philippine Sea?)

Hontiveros also expressed openness on the conduct of an executive session, saying the Senate panel is "mindful of any national security considerations."

In an ambush interview, Senator Marcos said the Senate foreign relations committee is still finishing the agenda and the list of resource persons.

Asked if Duterte will be invited, she replied, "Di ko pa alam." (I don't know yet.)

Marcos also dismissed the idea of an executive session on the matter.

"Parati naman tayong pwede mag-withdraw into executive session pero ang preference ko, 'wag namang executive session para mabulatlat na lahat. Kung talagang may sikreto, ine-executive session, mananatiling lihim. Eh anong silbi non? Kaya nga public hearing ang pangalan eh," Marcos said in an ambush interview.

(We are always allowed to withdraw into an executive session but my preference is not to have one to reveal everything. If there really are secrets, if they're told in an executive session, they will remain secres. What's the use of that? That's why they're called public hearings.)

Following the reminder of Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri not to turn Senate inquiries into "political witch hunts," Marcos, an ally of Duterte and the sister of the President, said that she has no plans to persecute anybody.

"I'm also the sister of my brother. I'm connected to all the parties essentially," Marcos said.

"Wala naman akong pagnanais na mag-persecute maski kanino. Kaibigan naman natin lahat yung mga na-involve. At ito naman hindi pulitika, 'di ba? Ito mga nakaraan. Matagal na ‘to eh," she added.

(I have no desire to persecute anybody. We are friends with everybody involved. And this is not politics, is it? This was long ago.) — BM, GMA Integrated News