Lacson: Don’t rush to conclude on PH-China deals

The public should wait for the official release of the official documents on the 29 agreements recently signed by the Philippines and China before making conclusions.

This was the statement of Senator Panfilo Lacson on Sunday following public comments that President Rodrigo Duterte has already sold the West Philippine Sea to China.

The senator insisted that it is too “premature” and “cynical” to make assumptions regarding the issue because the documents have not been released to the public.

“Hindi pa natin nakikita ‘yung nilalaman, may conclusion na agad tayo na dehado ang Pilipinas, nadaya, pinamigay. Anong basehan? Basahin muna natin kung ano ‘yung pinirmahan ng mga department heads, ng mga Cabinet secretaries,” Lacson said in an interview wih dzBB.

(We haven’t read the contents, but we have already formed conclusions that the Philippines is at a disadvantage. What is the basis for saying we have given away what is rightfully ours? Let us read first what the Cabinet secretaries had signed.)

“Hintayin muna natin ilabas bago tayo mag-conclude. At kung may makita tayong medyo dehado nga e saka tayo magsalita,” he added.

(Let’s wait for the documents to be released before we conclude anything. If we find any provisions there that could point to the fact that we may stand to lose, then let’s speak up.)

Chinese President Xi Jinping was in the country last week for a two-day visit in the country and had met with both leaders of the Congress.

Part of the agenda of the visit was the signing of 29 deals between the Philippines and China, including a memorandum of understanding for oil and gas development.

READ: PH, China sign MOU on oil and gas development, 28 other deals

Lacson also noted that the signing of the memorandum only states that the countries agreed to move forward in the same direction.

“Napaka-preliminary noon. Hindi naman ibig sabihin kapag pumirma ka ng memorandum of understanding, meron na agad na mga kuwenta, mga detalye. Halos wala. Pinakamababang uri iyon e,” he said.

(It’s in the preliminary stage. It doesn’t mean that the two parties have signed a memorandum of understanding, there will already be details. There’s almost none).

“Pagkatapos ng memorandum of understanding, meron nang pag-iisa ng pag-iisip na preliminarily, puwede tayong mag-joint exploration. Pero kung magkano ang hatiin, at kung sino ang maglalabas ng ganito, wala pa ‘yun,” he added.

(After the memorandum of understanding, there is already a preliminary understanding We can do joint exploration, but how much are we going to take from it, or who is going to invest, there are no details yet.) /ee