Senator Risa Hontiveros has filed a resolution urging the Senate to probe the reported "gentleman's agreement" between the Philippines and China regarding the BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal.
In her Senate Resolution No. 982 dated April 2, Hontiveros said if the allegation was confirmed to be true, this could be labeled as "an act of treason."
She added that this secret deal "would be tantamount to a surrender of the Philippines's sovereignty."
"Now be it resolved, as it is hereby resolved, to direct the appropriate Senate Committee to conduct an inquiry, in aid of legislation, into the claim of a "gentleman's agreement" involving the administration of former President Rodrigo Duterte and the Chinese government that effectively restricted the fortification of the BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal," the senator stated.
In an interview last March 28, former Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque claimed that Duterte and Chinese President Xi Jinping had an "oral agreement" that only food and water would be delivered to BRP Sierra Madre which is aground in Ayungin Shoal.
The two leaders, Roque said, had also agreed that no construction materials would transported to the warship.
He further claimed that former foreign affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano formalized the PH-China pact.
"Hindi po siya secret deal. 'Yan po ay talagang isinapubliko ni dating DFA Sec. Alan Peter Cayetano na ang kasunduan nila status quo. Walang gagalaw, walang magagawa ng kahit anong improvements at walang magiging problema," the former presidential spox said.
The National Security Council first stated that it was unaware of such an agreement, and underscored that if this exists, it "infringes and violates our sovereignty as a nation."
