No intention to delay investigation on Duterte’s ‘pact’, says Zubiri

Former President Rodrigo Duterte

MANILA, Philippines — Setting the record straight, Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri on Monday denied allegations that he is delaying the upper chamber’s investigation on former President Rodrigo Duterte’s gentleman’s agreement with China.

Zubiri made the clarification during a plenary session, calling on the public to keep politics out in the West Philippine Sea issue.

READ: Duterte denies he ‘conceded’ anything in WPS deal with China

“You know, I’d just like to put on record to my dear colleagues. Maybe I was misunderstood. I was interviewed over the weekend about this issue. What I said is that I am only regretting it because if we hit China, they will say that we are anti-Duterte. When we agree with China, they will call us pro-Duterte,” said Zubiri.

“We shouldn’t mix politics in this particular issue because we are talking about sovereignty. We, Filipinos, must be united when it comes to our sovereignty in the West Philippine Sea. That is what we want to convey,” he added.

Zubiri then emphasized that there was no plan to delay discussions on the particular issue.

According to the Senate chief, he was actually interviewed about the matter last Saturday where he categorically stated that the resolution on Duterte’s pact with China may be referred to the committee on foreign relations.

“I said that I will refer, if we’re talking about my own point of view because I used to be the majority leader. In my opinion, that goes to foreign relations. There is no, in any way, there’s no such thing or any such thing as we were going to delay this particular hearing,” Zubiri noted.

Senate panel to probe deal

Later in the session, Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva transferred the committee referral of Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros’ Senate Resolution No. 982, the resolution calling on the upper chamber to probe Duterte’s pact with China, from the committee on rules to the committee on foreign relations.

Hontiveros’ privilege speech delivered in the same plenary session was likewise referred to the same panel.

Uncover the truth, expose the lies

In her speech, Hontiveros urged the Senate to uncover the truth to Duterte’s pact with China, saying the alleged act poses a serious threat to Philippine sovereignty if proven true.

READ: Hontiveros files resolution for probe into Duterte-China WPS deal

“Recently, the Chinese Embassy in Manila alleged that under a Duterte administration gentleman’s agreement, the Philippines agreed that our vessels and aircraft would refrain from coming closer than 12 nautical miles from Panatag or Scarborough Shoal, just over 120 nautical miles away from mainland Zambales, and well within our exclusive economic zone,” said Hontiveros.

“The Chinese Embassy also alleges that the Duterte administration likewise entered into another gentleman’s agreement to not repair or build structures at Ayungin shoal,” she added.

Hontiveros believes these alleged practices are potentially divisive. She later on underscored that conflicting reports on the issue further blurs the line between truth and fiction, prompting her to emphasize the need to probe the alleged deal.

“Last Saturday, the Chinese Embassy also released another statement claiming that China has reached another agreement with no less than Philippine government agencies – namely the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the Department of National Defense, and the National Security Council – on a supposed new model of engagement over the entire South China Sea,” said Hontiveros.

Amid China’s “information warfare,” Hontiveros said it becomes “even more crucial that we get to the truth.”

“If something has been concealed from the Filipino people, let us bring it to light. If the Chinese government is lying through its teeth, let us expose those lies,” she said.