MANILA, Philippines- Pinabulaanan ni Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte nitong Huwebes na pumasok siya sa gentleman’s agreement o sekretong kasunduan kay Chinese President Xi Jinping ukol sa West Philippine Sea.
“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,” giit ni Duterte.
“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,” dagdag niya.
Ani Duterte, saksi sa pakikipag-usap niya kay Xi si dating Defense secretary Delfin Lorenzana, dating national security adviser Eduardo Año, at iba pa niyang Cabinet members.
“I said, ‘Mr. President, we would insist the China sea, or not the whole of it, but there is a part of the China sea that belongs to the Philippines.’ And since I would want to get savings, instead of importing it from the exporting country, ako naman, ‘I will dig my oil there. I just want to let you know,’” paglalahad ni Duterte.
Aniya, sinabi ni Xi sa kanya, “I am afraid you cannot do that.”
“Sabi ko, ‘Why Mr. President? …I will get it from the portion of the red China sea that belongs to the Philippines.’ Sabi niya, ‘Please do not do it for the life of me. We are friends and I do not want to destroy that friendship,’” patuloy ng dating Pangulo.
Giit ni Duterte, maaaring tanungin ni Marcos si Año ukol sa detalye ng kanyang pulong dahil siya rin ang national security adviser ng kasalukuyang administrasyon.
Hinamon ni Duterte si Marcos na kumpunihin ang BRP Sierra Madre na naksadsad sa Ayungin Shoal.
“Kaya ito sabi ko kay Marcos, stop complaining and expounding on it. Do it and repair. I challenge them, kasi sila man ang nasa gobyerno ngayon, eh di i-repair nila at gumawa sila doon ng mga bahay-bahay kung saan if they are really ready for that. I-patrol na nila yung Philippine Navy, yung gray ships, and let us see what happens,” ani Duterte. RNT/SA
