House Assistant Majority Leader and Zambales Rep. Jay
Khonghun: House probe to show what really happened on deal with China
INVITING members of former president Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s cabinet to an inquiry in the House of Representatives will show the Filipino people what really happened on his reported deal with China on the issue of the West Philippine Sea.
House Assistant Majority Leader and Zambales Rep. Jay Khonghun, who authored House Resolution (HR) No. 1684 initiating an investigation on the so-called “gentleman’s agreement” Duterte had forged with Chinese President Xi Jinping, said a probe is necessary to “get to the bottom” of the rather “confusing versions” on the issue.
“We welcome this probe to get to the bottom of the issue. We want to sift the chaff from the grain, so to speak. Or in this case – the lies or propaganda peddled by many and the real score (or truth) behind it,” Khonghun, a leader of the so-called Young Guns in the House, asserted in expressing support to the statement of Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez’s call to probe gentleman’s agreement.
“The investigation will give us a clearer picture, or the real big picture, of what really transpired because we only read the exchanges in the media. So, the congressional probe will give us a chance to hear it directly from the resource persons.”he said.
Khonghun noted allegations that Duterte’s decision (although verbally) may have “bargained away our rights to our territory and exclusive economic zone” in the West Philippine Sea, which is a very serious offense.
“This is why we need to dig deeper into this, and leave no stone unturned. This is for the sake of the Filipino people especially our fishermen making a living in the area,” he said.
“We also want to know the extent of the supposed agreement. What makes China think it is binding on President Bongbong Marcos Jr.’s administration, and what makes Beijing think they can enforce it without any treaty or official concurrence from the national government,” Khonghun added.
In his resolution, the administration lawmaker said “there is a necessity to look into such agreement to check if the same is true since it has been used as China’s justification of its harassment of Filipino resupply boats – including its use of water canons on them.”
“While the former president confirmed at a press conference last April 11 in Davao City, and its main goal was to avert armed confrontation between Filipinos and Chinese in the WPS, it only favors Beijing and compromises the Philippines’ national interest,” Khonghun argued.
The House Assistant Majority Leader also indicated it is very ironic that the Duterte-Xi deal was “supposed to limit the supply sent by the government to the soldiers stationed in grounded BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal.”
“The so-called gentleman’s agreement, if any, is constitutionally void since it is tantamount to the surrender of our country’s rights over our exclusive economic zone,” Khonghun warned, noting a “thorough investigation” in aid of legislation is a must.
