‘HUDAS PACT’ DENOUNCED
“GENTLEMAN’S Agreement o Hudas Agreement?”
This was the question raised by Senator Risa Hontiveros saying former President Rodrigo Duterte should be held answerable insisting that the former Chief Executive must really reveal what transpired during his meeting with Chinese President Xi JinPing.
“Kasi napaka-traydor po ng pasimuno niyang di umanong gentleman’s agreement na yan. At kung totoo talaga yung kasunduan, mukhang isinuko nga ni Duterte ang teritoryo ng Pilipinas.” said Hontiveros adding this is not a normal actuation of a President specially that China is claiming our territory in the West Phil Sea.
Hontiveros earlier filed a resolution seeking to investigate the so-called gentlemen’s agreement between the former president and the Chinese government which restricted the repair and rehabilitaton of the BRP Sierra Madre on Ayungin Shoal.
“Sa salita ng mismong dating Philippine Navy Flag Officer in Command na si Eduardo Santos, sabi po nila this is “An act of treason.” Ang unang nagbunyag niyan si Atty. Harry Roque, dapat ipaliwanag niya yung mga circumstance ng deal na iyan. Paano ba na-broker yan lalo na at yung implication sa ating pambansang seguridad,” Hontiveros was quoted as saying.
The resolution clearly stated that the National Security Council itself, through its Asst. Director General Jonathan Malaya, said it was not aware of such an agreement.
“At ang pinakamasahol talaga, itong nakasunduan ito ay lalo lang binigyan ang Beijing ng bala para i-assert yung kanyang walang basehan na mga claims sa ating karagatan. Kaya dyan po sa aking Proposed Senate Resolution No. 982, kinu-quote ko rin po yung National Security Council na nagsalita yung Assistant Director General nito na si Jonathan Malaya na kahit ang NSC po, hindi po nila alam yung ganyang klaseng kasunduan. ”
“Parang napaligiran na tayo. Pati pambansang seguridad nating nalagay sa pahamak dahil sa walang dangal na gentlemen’s agreement na yan. China is already all around us– Nandyan sila sa ating telecoms, sa ating national grid, pati sa karagatan. Eh sa ganitong sitwasyon ng kasunduan daw, lalo lang pinalakas ni Duterte ang Tsina sa kasunduan niya na ‘di umano ay pinasukan niya. ” Hontiveros said.
Hontiveros explained the need to defend the BRP Sierra Madre on Ayungin Shoal insisting that this is about the Filipinos rights and sovereignty.
“It is our duty to fortify the BRP Sierra Madre. Without it on Ayungin , we effectively give way for China to illegally occupty what is ours. If we stop reinforcing the Sierra Madre, we not only lose a crucial, strategic outpost, but also fail to defend our sovereignty,” Hontiveros concluded.
