MANILA, Philippines 鈥� Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva downplayed the so-called 鈥済entleman鈥檚 agreement鈥� entered into by former President Rodrigo Duterte with China, calling it a mere propaganda by the Asian giant.
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鈥淚 really believe so 鈥� that this is just a plain, simple propaganda of the Chinese government. Look at the ambassador, 鈥榙i ba? Kung anu-ano na naman ang sinasabi nya. May one, two, three na naman siya,鈥� said Villanueva in a Kapihan sa Senado briefing on Tuesday.
(I really believe so 鈥� that this is just a plain, simple propaganda of the Chinese government. Look at the ambassador. He鈥檚 just saying anything. He has another one, two, three.)
According to Villanueva, he is certain that the propaganda is just another part of China鈥檚 鈥減lan.鈥�
鈥淭his is part of their strategy. So let鈥檚 not fall into their traps,鈥� said Villanueva.
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Former presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque earlier claimed Duterte鈥檚 鈥渁greement鈥� with China called for the Philippines to refrain from bringing construction and repair materials to the BRP Sierra Madre grounded on Ayungin Shoal.
Duterte later admitted having agreed with China to 鈥渕aintain the status quo鈥� in the West Philippine Sea, but he insisted that the country did not 鈥渃oncede鈥� anything during his tenure.
Apart from the supposed gentleman鈥檚 agreement, the Chinese embassy now claims that after the rounds of 鈥渘egotiations in early 2024,鈥� the governments of China and the Philippines agreed to follow 鈥渁 new model鈥� on the management of the Ayungin Shoal dispute.
鈥淟ast September, the Chinese side invited the Special Envoy of the President to China for Special Concerns to discuss how to properly manage the situation at Ren鈥檃i Jiao,鈥� the embassy recalled in a statement issued on April 12.
鈥淓arlier this year, the Chinese side and the Philippine side agreed on a 鈥榥ew model鈥� on the management of Ren鈥檃i Jiao situation after rounds of negotiations,鈥� it said.
The embassy did not detail what 鈥渘ew model鈥� on Ayungin Shoal row was agreed upon.
It likewise gave no categorical answer when it was asked which specific Philippine government agency made the 鈥渁greement鈥� with China.
黑料社 sought clarification from the Department of Foreign Affairs on China鈥檚 allegations, but as of this writing, it has yet to provide an answer.
Stand as one
Amid heightened tensions in the West Philippine Sea, Villanueva aired a single appeal to all Filipinos: Be united.
鈥淵ou know, when we see each other united in this particular issue 鈥� walang opposition, walang majority 鈥� walang iba鈥檛-ibang kulay kundi kayumanggi lahat 鈥� 鈥榙on鈥檛 we feel good about it?,鈥� asked Villanueva.
(You know, when we see each other united in this particular issue 鈥� no opposition, no majority, no different colors, just all of us brown 鈥� don鈥檛 we feel good about it?)