Scrutiny of 29 PH-China deals necessary – Drilon

Recalling two “grossly disadvantageous” deals that government previously forged with China, Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon has called for rigid review of the 29 agreements that the Duterte administration recently entered into with Beijing.

Drilon cited the NorthRail Project, which he said was overpriced at $421 million, as well as the controversial NBN-ZTE deal worth $329 million — two big deals the country signed with China during the term of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, who is now Speaker of the House of Representatives.

“The controversies involving these two multi-million dollar Philippine government undertakings with China are too recent to be forgotten,” Drilon said in a statement on Thursday.

READ: WHAT WENT BEFORE: NBN-ZTE deal

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“Taking into account the grossly disadvantageous contracts that the government had previously signed with China, it is imperative that we scrutinize these new deals to assess whether the agreements are consistent with the Constitution and our laws,” he pointed out.

Drilon further called for “absolute transparency” on all 29 agreements, especially the Memorandum of Understaning (MOU) on a joint oil and gas development.

Drilon said that under the law, exploration, development, and utilization of the country’s natural resources shall be under the full control and supervision of the State.

Drilon also cited Section 2 of the 1987 Constitution, which states that “the State may directly undertake activities, or it may enter into co-production, joint venture, or production-sharing agreements with Filipino citizens, or corporations or associations at least 60 per centum of whose capital is owned by such citizens.”

“We will be vigilant in scrutinizing these agreements,” he said. “We are prepared to go to court on this.”

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