MANILA, Philippines — Despite the seemingly varying opinions coming from two alter egos of the President, presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo reiterated yesterday that the verbal agreement between President Duterte and Chinese President Xi Jinping remains in force with regard to allowing Chinese fishermen in the West Philippine Sea.
Panelo stopped short of publicly castigating Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. and Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles, who deviated from Malacañang’s explanation that the agreement between Duterte and Xi is binding despite the lack of a treaty or any other legal document.
“What I am saying comes from the President’s statement. If my colleagues interpret it differently, they are entitled to their own interpretation,” Panelo said in Filipino at a regular press briefing.
Duterte is a lawyer, Panelo said, and that’s how the President views his agreement with Xi.
“There are as many opinions as there are lawyers. If that’s how he interprets the agreement, that’s his interpretation,” Panelo said, referring to Nograles.
Nograles said Duterte had just agreed to talk about issues with China when he allowed Chinese fishermen to fish within Philippine waters.
“But the position of the President remains the same. It has not changed. He told us what exactly happened. All the Cabinet members heard him,” Panelo said.
Panelo noted that neither Locsin nor Nograles were present when the President discussed his conversation with Xi, insinuating that they might have misunderstood Duterte’s intentions.
The Philippines cannot prevent the Chinese from fishing in the country’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ), Panelo said, since Beijing officials believe that the entire South China Sea belongs to them.
“The problem with the question, ‘Will you allow Chinese fishermen to fish in the EEZ?’ What does allow mean when they are there? As far as they are concerned, they own it,” Panelo said.
Panelo said the discussion between Duterte and Xi included the continued operations in the West Philippine Sea by Filipino fishermen.
He assured the public that Duterte will always work for the welfare of the Filipino people.
“It doesn’t matter to the President if he is popular or not. What he will do is he will perform his duty under the Constitution as directed to him. His prime duty being the head of the government is to serve and protect the people,” Panelo said.
‘Shut up’
As this developed, Panelo slammed yesterday former solicitor general Florin Hilbay for prodding the Senate to conduct an inquiry into the verbal agreement between Duterte and Xi allegedly allowing the Chinese to go into the country’s EEZ.
Panelo said Hilbay, who lost his senatorial bid in the last May elections, should just shut up.
“He’s not the solicitor general anymore,” Panelo said in Filipino.
Panelo pointed out that Hilbay and other critics who lost in the midterm polls should stop hitting the administration.
“They’ve been overwhelmingly repudiated by the electorate and the issues they have raised against the President and this administration have been factored in,” Panelo said.