“While at this, we’re reminded of the truism that invariably politicians think only of the next election, while statesmen think only of the next generation”
SECURING the sovereignty of the State and the integrity of the national territory, as the Constitution tells us, is the goal of the Armed Forces of the Philippines as the protector of the people and the State.
The charter also reminds us that civilian authority is, at all times, supreme over the military.
We cite this particular provision in the fundamental law to emphasize that when national sovereignty and territorial integrity come under grave threat, especially from external forces, then all Filipinos regardless of political persuasions should unite and face the challenge squarely.
We view with much concern the deafening silence of former officials of the previous administration on China’s growing assertiveness and bullying of our resupply vessels in Ayungin Shoal located in our Exclusive Economic Zone in the South China Sea according to the United Nations Convention on Law of the Sea.
These former officials of the Duterte administration should set aside political partisanship and let national interest prevail.
If these former officials still serving in public office under the Marcos Jr. administration cannot, for one reason or another, firmly oppose China’s inroads in our EEZ, they should at least support efforts to ferret out the truth regarding the so-called “gentleman’s agreement,” apparently forged in utmost secrecy between then president Rodrigo Duterte and Chinese leader Xi Jinping ostensibly to allow the status quo to prevail in Ayungin Shoal.
Former key officials directly involved with foreign policy and defense issues would certainly have had intimate knowledge of the agreement supposedly forged in utmost secrecy by Duterte and Xi even before Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s assumption as president in 2022.
We’d like to know, for instance, if the “gentleman’s agreement” or what appears to be an ultra-secret pact between the two leaders requires the Philippine government to seek permission from China for our resupply missions in Ayungin Shoal.
Does it prohibit the Philippines from transporting construction supplies for the grounded derelict ship BRP Sierra Madre that serves as an outpost for our military to protect our sovereign rights in the area?
These officials have kept silent about the controversial agreement, the existence of which was already confirmed by the Chinese Embassy in Manila.
On the other hand, Rodrigo Duterte has spoken about the deal, calling it a “gentleman’s agreement,: but this admission has only caused more confusion rather than cleared the air.
President Marcos Jr. wants to know everything about the secret agreement, exclaiming he was “horrified” by the fact that such an agreement even took place.
He was emphatic in saying any such agreement violates our Constitution and puts national sovereignty in jeopardy.
The Chief Executive recently returned home from a historic trilateral meeting in Washington, D.C., with President Joe Biden of the United States and Prime Minister Fumio Kishida of Japan.
This visit further strengthened our alliance with the US and Japan in the economic and security spheres.
But even after this exceedingly successful visit—the country stands to gain from an unexpected windfall of no less than $100 million in direct investments from US firms, as well as the reaffirmation of the “ironclad” US guarantee that it would come to our defense under the terms of the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty —his critics would rather question his commitment to the national interest and the people’s welfare.
As the highest elected leader of the land, Marcos Jr. has to defend the national interest at all times.
Part of this is to push back against Beijing’s increasingly aggressive behavior as shown by its naked display of brute force against our resupply missions in the West Philippine Sea where we have our EEZ.
The president is the chief architect of our foreign policy.
He has chosen to stand up against Chinese bullying and to assert our sovereign rights in the West Philippine Sea based on UNCLOS and the 2016 ruling of the Permanent Arbitral Tribunal on our sovereign rights in the area.
While at this, we’re reminded of the truism that invariably politicians think only of the next election, while statesmen think only of the next generation.
Now, we know who are the politicians who do not want to speak out against gangsterism in the high seas because they only want power for its own sake and those in the other side of the spectrum who only want to defend and uphold national sovereignty and the national interest despite overwhelming odds. (Email: [email protected])