Former President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday denied he 'conceded' anything in the deal he made with Chinese President Xi Jinping over the West Philippine Sea.
Speaking in a press conference, Duterte said nobody, not even the country's President, can concede anything about territories.
"We have not conceded anything to China. There might have been exchange of control over the China Sea, pero those were really territorial in nature, not involving the encroachment of China in an exclusive economic zone. Iba yon….Nobody but nobody in the Philippines today, either the Supreme Court, the presidency or Congress can concede anything about territories. Hindi gawain ng presidente yan," he said.
However, he admitted agreeing with China to maintain the status quo in the West Philippine Sea during his term.
"Aside from the fact of having a handshake with President Xi Jinping, the only thing I remember was status quo. That's the word na walang galawan — no movement, no armed patrols there…para walang magkagulo, hindi tayo magkagulo. Yun ang naaalala ko. I do not even know the Ayungin Shoal," Duterte said.
"I assure you that if it was a gentleman's agreement, it would always have been an agreement that would keep the peace in the South China Sea," he continued.
Duterte's former spokesperson Harry Roque earlier revealed the "gentleman's agreement" that Duterte had with China.
