Malaca帽ang denied on Monday a Vera Files report that the Philippines had offered to downgrade its Sabah claim in exchange for Malaysia鈥檚 support for its case against China before the United Nations.
鈥淎bsolutely, no truth to that information that there鈥檚 a supposed quid pro quo to drop the Sabah claim,鈥� said Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte in a text message to the Inquirer.
Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma confirmed the subject report鈥檚 claim that the Department of Foreign Affairs recently sent a note verbale to the Malaysian embassy in Manila.
However, 鈥淪abah is not in any way part of that note,鈥� said Coloma, also head of the Palace-based Presidential Communications Operations Office.
鈥淭he note verbale that was written about was part of the (regular consultation) process鈥� between Manila and Kuala Lumpur, he pointed out.
The same note was 鈥渁bout the features in the South China Sea and their implications on (the country鈥檚) Extended Continental Shelf, or ECS claims,鈥� Coloma explained.
Quoting DFA spokesperson Charles Jose, he noted 鈥渢he Philippines has excellent relations with Malaysia.鈥�
鈥淚n the context of our friendly, bilateral relations, our two countries have been for years exchanging ways on how to address the issue of the ECS in the South China Sea. The note verbale was part of that process,鈥� he added.