Submission? Coalition warns vs. PH-China joint WPS oil exploration

Experts and lawmakers on Thursday warned the Philippine government against entering into a joint oil and gas exploration with China in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) citing constitutional, security, and economic risks.

“Any future oil talks with China are unacceptable unless it fully recognizes the Philippines' 2016 arbitral ruling victory, withdraws from the WPS, ends their illegal occupation and militarization, and stops harassing Filipino fishers and frontliners,” Atin Ito co-convenor Rafaela David said in a press conference.

“Any talks of joint oil and gas exploration with China is not a solution. It is submission,” she added.

The joint exploration may reward China’s aggressive behavior and encourage regional coercion, according to the group.

It added that there is also a risk of economic dependency and weakened energy security.

Retired Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio, meanwhile, pointed out that the 1987 Constitution reserves the country’s marine resources for Filipinos.

Carpio was part of the Philippine delegation in the 2013 arbitration case against China, which led to the landmark victory for Manila in 2016.

He also warned against China’s concept of “joint development.”

“Joint development means China owns the oil and gas and out of the goodness of its heart, it will allow us to participate,” Carpio said.

“We should use the term joint cooperation because under that term the oil and gas belong to the Philippines and we just invite other foreign companies and states to help us develop oil and gas,” it added.

Carpio said that any agreement must meet two key conditions: the oil and gas belong to the Philippines, and contracts are governed by Philippine law.

Akbayan Partylist Representative Chel Diokno called for congressional oversight and transparency in any negotiations, warning against secret or backroom deals.

“Hindi pwedeng idaan sa secret o backroom deals ang kinabukasan ng ating bansa. Any agreement forged without transparency raises serious red flags,” Diokno said.

(The future of our country cannot be determined by secret or backroom deals.)

“We will ask the House special committee on the WPS together with other relevant committees to exercise oversight and look into these oil talks to ensure transparency, accountability, and adherence to the Constitution,” he added.

This is to ensure that Philippine officials are acting within the bounds of the law and the national interest, according to Diokno.

National interest

Previously, Malacañang ensured that the government would protect the country’s national interests in the possible joint oil and gas exploration with China amid present energy challenges. 

Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro said the administration would never surrender the Philippines' interests if this joint exploration will occur. 

"Lagi naman, kung ano ang nararapat sa atin at kung anong karapatan natin, 'yan naman ang ipinaglalaban ng Pangulo at ng administrayon na ito (Whatever is rightfully ours and whatever our rights are, that's what the President and this administration are pushing for)," Castro said in an interview. 

"So, walang mawawala. Walang mawawalang interes, walang ipamimigay na interes. Basta tayo laging sincere, walang secret deal (So, nothing will be lost. No interest will be lost, and no interest will be surrendered and we remain sincere, there are no secret deals)," Castro added. —VAL, GMA News