Marcos ''horrified'' by ‘gentleman’s agreement’, wants clarification from Chinese Ambassador
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Wednesday said he was “horrified” by the idea that the gentleman’s agreement or secret agreement had compromised “the territory, the sovereignty and sovereign rights of the Philippines.”
Marcos said he would ask for clarification from Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian about the supposed gentleman’s agreement between his predecessor and China.
The President made the remarks when asked in an interview with reporters in San Juan. Marcos left at 2:36 pm for Washington where he will attend a trilaterial summit with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and US President Joe Biden.
“We still have to clear it up. We are waiting for Ambassador Huang Xilian to come back from Beijing na umalis and I asked to see him baka siguro sa pagbalik na (from Washington) at ipaliwanag niya ano ba, sino ba ‘yung kausap mo? Sino ba talagang kausap mo? Ano’ng pinag-usapan ninyo? Anong pinag-agreehan (agree) ninyo? Was this an official thing, or was it a personal thing, ano ba ito?,'' Marcos told reporters.
''Dahil wala kaming record, kahit saan ka tumungin, walang record,” the President added.
So, this was done in secret, Marcos said.
“Bakit nila ginawa? Kung gagawin man nila dapat, bakit pa nila ginawang sekreto? Nakakapagtaka nga eh kaya it’s not a good situation,” he said.
Asked if he is talking to his predecessor, the President said he is in contact with the officials of the previous administration.
“We’re talking to his officials, maybe not the (former) president himself, but all his former officials. Tinatanong namin, ano ba ‘yan? Ipaliwanag n’yo naman sa amin para alam namin ang ginagawa namin. And we still haven’t gotten a straight answer,” Marcos said.
According to the chief executive, he wanted a clear picture of what really took place. Marcos pointed out he does not know anything about the gentleman’s agreement, saying they were not briefed into it when he came into office.
This developed as Marcos reiterated his expectations with his trilateral meeting with Kishida and Biden, noting the meeting will be on specific commitments by the three nations.
“This is essentially an agreement between the United States, Japan and the Philippines on cooperation in terms of maintaining security and freedom of navigation in the South China Sea,” he said.
“That is the essence of it. But of course it will contain more details in the sense of how that inter-cooperation will be implemented. So, that is what we are going to discuss now when we go to Washington and speak with Prime Minister Kishida and with President Biden.” DMS
