Palace hits ‘baseless, unfair’ remarks of Robredo, Morales vs PH-China MOU

Malacañang on Monday dismissed as “baseless and unfair” the remarks of Vice President Leni Robredo and former Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales on the recently signed memorandum of understanding (MOU) on oil and gas development between China and the Philippines.

Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said Robredo and Morales’ comments were anchored “merely on media reports” and not on the document itself.

“The two ladies therefore may have not studied nor even read the Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation on Oil and Gas Development prior to their manifesting their misplaced observations and apprehensions, not to mention the unkind accusations,” Panelo said in a statement.

The Palace official stressed the signed agreement “serves only as a framework for a future agreement based on mutual respect on each other’s sovereignty and interest, and certainly benefit for the country.”

Panelo added that under the MOU, an inter-governmental joint steering committee and inter-entrepreneurial working group will be created to look into possible energy cooperation.

“The MOU does not create rights or obligations under international or domestic law which may delineate our territory or sovereign rights,” he said.

“The apprehensions of Mmes. Robredo and Carpio-Morales are thus more imaginary than real,” he added.

In her Sunday radio program, Robredo urged the Duterte administration to be transparent in establishing friendly relations with China.

She also called for an explanation on the 29 agreements signed during Chinese President Xi Jinping’s state visit that are relevant and can impact Filipino citizens’ lives.

READ: Robredo demands transparency on deals with China

For her part, Morales said the Philippines “cannot survive treason from within.”

“A nation can survive its fools, and even the ambitious. But it cannot survive treason from within,” Morales said.

“An enemy at the gates is less formidable … but the traitor moves among those within the gate freely, his sly whispers rustling through all the alleys, heard in the very halls of government itself,” she also said.  /kga