(Eagle News) — Opposition senator Risa Hontiveros said President Rodrigo Duterte failed to assert Philippine sovereignty and the Constitution when he signed a framework agreement with China on joint maritime oil and gas exploration.
Hontiveros made the statement after she read what she said was a draft of the pact that was leaked to the media.
“Dehadong-dehado ang Pilipinas sa ‘kasunduan,'” she said.
For instance, based on the document she read, she said there was no 60-40 equity rule as required by the 1987 Constitution.
She said there was also a confidentiality clause saying that any document, information or data concerning the joint exploration shall be kept confidential, and a dispute settlement provision which favors “so-called friendly consultations instead of arbitration and other multilateral approaches.”
“The people need to scrutinize all these documents. We need to know whether or not these agreements are compatible with our sovereign and territorial interests and in full compliance with our international obligations, particularly the arbitral tribunal ruling on the West Philippine Sea,” Hontiveros said.
President Duterte and Chinese President Xi Jinping witnessed the signing of 29 agreements during the Chinese leader’s 2-day state visit.