‘Verbal, unrecorded, informal deal with China unconstitutional’

MANILA, Philippines — Agreements made by Philippine leaders that are verbal, unrecorded and informal are unconstitutional, according to Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel III.

“Let’s discourage that as a matter of government policy or state policy. Let’s discourage the leaders, even if you’re an architect of foreign policy, from entering into verbal, unrecorded and informal agreements,” Pimentel told radio dzBB yesterday.

“If you intend to enter (into such an agreement), it’s void because it’s contrary to public policy. I think that’s unconstitutional, that’s against the Constitution,” he added.

President Marcos can meet with former president Rodrigo Duterte to discuss issues in the West Philippine Sea (WPS), Pimentel noted.

The mechanism of a possible meeting between an incumbent president, former presidents and ranking officers of the legislative branch and Cabinet secretaries is provided under the setup of the National Security Council (NSC), the principal advisory body coordinating and integrating plans and policies affecting national security, he said.

Pimentel recalled that Duterte, at a press conference, indicated his intention to entertain Marcos and said “You (Marcos) can call me.”

At an April 11 press conference, Duterte admitted that in his reported “gentleman’s agreement” with China, he agreed not to have repairs done to the BRP Sierra Madre, which is marooned in Ayungin Shoal in the West Philippine Sea.

Duterte said what he had with Chinese President Xi Jinping was a “handshake” sealing their agreement to maintain a status quo in the West Philippine Sea, or “as is, where is.”

He stressed that he did not concede anything to China.

Meanwhile, Pimentel described as “step one” Senate Resolution 82 filed by Sen. Risa Hontiveros, which pushes for a Senate inquiry into Duterte’s supposed agreement with Xi.

“We are in step one. Who is the source of the information? Former presidential spokesman Harry Roque. Let’s invite him first,” Pimentel said.

“I think the legislative branch can investigate (Duterte and Xi’s agreement) to find out what happened or officially happened. But just now based on Duterte’s explanation, I think I know that it was an