Philippines President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. expressed alarm upon hearing about an alleged ‘gentleman’s agreement’ that his predecessor, Rodrigo Duterte, reportedly entered with the Chinese government concerning the BRP Sierra Madre, stranded in the Ayungin Shoal in the West Philippine Sea. Marcos critiqued the agreement’s implications, suggesting it would require the Philippines to seek permission from another country to move within its own territory, a notion he finds difficult to accept.
Marcos, taken aback by the secretive nature of this agreement, is seeking clarification from the Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian. The absence of documentation or records of such an agreement within the current administration has led to inquiries with former officials of Duterte’s administration, yet no concrete explanation has been provided.
The claim of this clandestine agreement first surfaced from statements by Harry Roque, Duterte’s former presidential spokesperson, later countered by clarifications and denials from Duterte’s legal counsel, Salvador Panelo, and other former Cabinet members. They collectively denied any formal or informal agreement regarding the West Philippine Sea, the Ayungin Shoal, or the BRP Sierra Madre.
While Roque maintains that the understanding with China aimed at maintaining peace and bolstering economic ties, Marcos is left to navigate these complex diplomatic waters, reflecting the ongoing tensions and challenges in the Philippines’ relations with China regarding maritime sovereignty.