Duterte had no deal with China over Ayungin — Panelo

Former President Rodrigo Duterte didn't enter into any agreement with China not to maintain BRP Sierra Madre which is aground in the Ayungin Shoal, a member of his cabinet has said.

In a program on SMNI, Atty. Salvador Panelo said that anyone who said Duterte had a deal with China over the shoal was seeking publicity for himself.

"Kung sino man ang nagkakalat ng gentleman's agreement, 'yung poý nagsisinungaling. Baka gusto lang ng publisidad sa sarili niya," said Panelo, the chief presidential legal counsel under the Duterte administration.

Panelo thus remarked days after former presidential spokesman Atty. Harry Roque said the Philippines entered into a "gentleman’s agreement" with China which barred the country from sending repair materials to the BRP Sierra Madre in the Ayungin Shoal.

Roque said the deal was reached during the presidency of Rodrigo Duterte and publicized by then Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano.

The Philippines should only deliver food and water supplies to Filipino troops on BRP Sierra Madre at Ayungin Shoal as part of the agreement with China during Duterte’s time, he added.

“This is not a secret deal. This was made public by Secretary [Alan Peter] Cayetano na walang gagalaw, walang improvement [sa BRP Sierra Madre], walang problema sa Ayungin," Roque said.

Panelo said he spoke to Duterte twice over the Holy Week.

"Ang sabi niya, 'I have not entered into any gentleman's agreement whatsoever'," Panelo said quoting Duterte.

"I have been avoiding that Ayungin Shoal like a hot potato kasi alam kong napaka mainit 'yang topic na 'yan kaya wala akong pinagkakasunduan kahit kanino," he added.

Panelo said Duterte only pushed for matters in which the Philippines and China agree such as trade relations.

GMA News Online has sought comment from Roque and will publish his reply as soon as it is available. —NB, GMA Integrated News