MANILA, Philippines- Nilinaw ni dating presidential spokesman Harry Roque nitong Martes na walang partikular na kasunduan si dating Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte sa Ayungin Shoal.
Iginiit niya na ang kasunduan sa China ay upang respetuhin umano ang status quo sa buong West Philippine Sea.
Kasunod ang paglilinaw ni Roque ng pahayag ni dating presidential adviser Salvador Panelo na hindi pumasok si Duterte sa anumang “gentleman’s agreement.”
Sa panayam nitong Lunes, sinabi ni Panelo na dalawang beses niyang nakausap si Duterte noong Holy Week at mariin umanong itinanggi ng dating chief executive na nakipagkasundo siya sa China.
“I’ve been avoiding that Ayungin Shoal like a hot potato because I know it’s a very hot topic, so I did not make an agreement with anyone,” pahayag ni Panelo, base umano kay Duterte.
Gayundin, sinabi ni Panelo na sinumang nagkakalat na mayroong nangyaring kasunduan ay nagsisinungaling, at sinabing nais lamang umano ng indibidwal ang “publicity for himself.”
Sumang-ayon si Roque, sa panayam nitong Martes, sa ilang pahayag ni Panelo.
Subalit, nanindigan siyang mayroon ngang kasunduan si Duterte sa China.
“There is no specific agreement on Ayungin. The gentleman’s agreement is to respect the status quo on the entire West Philippine Sea dispute. That is correct and I do not deny that,” giit ni Roque.
“So, that is why I am, in fact, surprised that what has been coming in the media is a sell out of sorts. Why? Did we lose territory? Did we lose [BRP] Sierra Madre? Did the [former] President order the removal of BRP Sierra Madre? Certainly not,” dagdag niya.
“The agreement is on how to manage the entire dispute in the West Philippine Sea and not specifically on Ayungin,” patuloy ni Roque.
Nauna nang sinabi ni Roque na ang kasunduan ni Duterte– na humihirit sa Pilipinas na iwasan ang konstruksyon ng anumang pasilidad sa lugar– ay “non-binding” at hindi maaaring pairalin sa termino ni Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
Sa parehong panayam, inihayag ni Roque na mayroon ding water cannon incident sa panahon ni Duterte na naganap sa Ayungin Shoal.
“That was when the matter of delivery of supplies and repair materials came about. But I remember distinctly and I was there when the [former] President showed his anger to the Chinese ambassador: ‘Make sure that not one of my soldier dies, because if even one of them dies then it would become a different pattern,’” pagbabahagi niya sa pahayag ng dating presidente.
Pag-amin ni Roque, hindi siya sigurado kung itinuloy ng Pilipinas ang pagdadala ng construction materials sa BRP Sierra Madre matapos ang water cannon incident noong panahon ni Duterte.
Subalit, ipinaliwanag niya na tiyak na bibigay ang grounded BRP Sierra Madre kung wala ang mga materyales na ito.
“The difference is we did so discreetly if we must have brought [construction] materials because for as long as the Chinese believe that the delivery consists only of water and food, then, they will not object,” ani Roque. RNT/SA
