LAWMAKERS have started investigating the issue of the gentleman’s agreement or new model between China and the Philippines.
On Tuesday, several members of former President Rodrigo Duterte’s cabinet appeared before Congress.
These included former Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, former Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, and former National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr.
The three officials asserted that there was no gentleman’s agreement or new model discussed between China and the Philippines.
They stated that the Duterte administration merely continued the agreements made by the Aquino administration with China in 2013 under former Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin.
On Wednesday, former Western Command (WesCom) head Vice Admiral Alberto Carlos testified before the Senate.
China has pointed to Carlos as their contact regarding the alleged gentleman’s agreement or new model, which reportedly went through several rounds of discussions aimed at resolving issues between the two countries over Ayungin Shoal.
“Side through AFP WesCom agreed on a ‘new model’ for the management of the situation at Ren’ai Jiao early this year after multiple rounds of discussions.”
“Either the ‘gentlemen’s agreement’ or the ‘new model’ is a confidence-building measure aimed at managing disputes, avoiding conflicts, and maintaining peace, and has nothing to do with each other’s sovereign positions,” statement of the Philippine China Embassy.
However, Carlos told the Senate that no such agreement took place between China and the Philippines.
He emphasized that he is merely a commander of WesCom and not the entire AFP to enter into such an agreement.
Regarding this, Commodore Roy Vincent Trinidad, Navy spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, said the issue should be dropped.
“We stand by the pronouncement of the President that no such agreement exists. If there is any, it has already been rescinded. I call it a zombie story that we should kill because it came from them, not from us,” said Comm. Roy Vincent Trinidad, Spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, PN.
The official added that caution should be exercised when taking statements to avoid conflicts among Filipinos.
“We have to be very careful in picking up the narrative from the other side because a lot of this is designed to sow dissent among us, making us fight among ourselves,” Trinidad added.
AFP Spox: Vice Admiral Carlos’ removal not a punishment
Meanwhile, regarding the removal of Vice Admiral Carlos as WesCom Chief, AFP spokesperson Col. Francel Margareth Padilla clarified that it was not a punishment for Carlos.
She explained that Carlos had been on leave for a long time and needed to be replaced.
“It’s never a form of punishment. It’s part of our being officers, even the enlisted personnel rotation policy. It’s a policy,” Col. Francel Margareth Padilla, Spokesperson, AFP stated.
Vice Admiral Carlos was replaced by Rear Admiral Alfonso Torres Jr. as WesCom Chief, while Carlos is now at the AFP general headquarters under the supervision of the AFP Chief of Staff.
