DFA, DND have no record of 'gentleman's agreement'

(UPDATE) OFFICIALS from the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and the Department of National Defense (DND) on Monday told members of the House of Representatives they were not aware of the purported «gentleman's agreement» between former president Rodrigo Duterte and China concerning the West Philippine Sea (WPS).

DFA Assistant Secretary Aileen Mendiola-Rau said the department «has no record of a gentleman's agreement. ..with regard to Ayungin Shoal» and reiterated that «the Philippines has not entered into any agreement abandoning its sovereign rights and jurisdiction over its exclusive economic zone and continental shelf including on the Ayungin Shoal.»

Defense Undersecretary Ignacio Madriaga said the DND is «not privy to any gentleman's agreement with China» and has no record «detailing or potentially showing the contours of a deal.»

Mendiola-Rau and Madriaga were among the resource persons who gave testimony during the joint hearing of the Committee on National Defense and Security and the Special Committee on the West Philippine Sea.

National Security Council Deputy Director General Nestor Herico said National Security Adviser Eduardo Año «will not support any such agreement that will compromise the» country's national security and interest.

Adm. Ronnie Gil Gavan, Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) commandant, said the PCG «has no knowledge» of the gentleman's agreement, adding that «it won't matter to us because the Philippine Coast Guard will only follow the directive being issued to us» by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

The President himself has denied knowledge of the agreement but made it clear that he will rescind it if it exists.

Joel Garcia, a former PCG officer in charge and commandant, said they had no knowledge of any gentleman's agreement between the two presidents.

Earlier this year, Duterte admitted that he had an agreement with China's President Xi Jinping to keep the WPS status quo.

Under their pact, Duterte said there would be no attempt by the Philippines to repair the beached Navy ship Sierra Madre, the country's outpost on Ayungin Shoal.

At the start of the hearing, House Assistant Majority Leader Jefferson Khonghun, who filed the