Año: No proof of ‘gentleman’s agreement’ between Duterte, China

National Security Adviser Eduardo Año on Thursday said there is no document that would prove there was a "gentleman's agreement" involving the administration of former President Rodrigo Duterte and the Chinese government regarding the BRP Sierra Madre at Ayungin Shoal in the West Philippine Sea.

''Wala, wala, walang ganyan. [Nothing, there is nothing like that.] The Chinese are always talking about the gentleman's agreement, they cannot show anything na mayroon talaga, even a document, or identify somebody who said that particular [who could have] entered into that gentleman's agreement,'' Año told reporters. 

''For the meantime, we will fight for our rights, we will make sure we are protecting our territorial integrity and ensuring our sovereignty in our EEZ,'' he added. 

Año served as chief of the Department of the Interior and Local Government during the Duterte administration. He also became the chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. 

It was former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque who said that the Philippine government had entered into a "gentleman’s agreement" with China barring the country from sending repair materials to the Sierra Madre, a rusting Philippine Navy vessel intentionally grounded at the shoal to maintain a military presence there.

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

The National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea (NTF-WPS) earlier said it was not aware of any “gentleman’s agreement” between the Philippines and China.

Lawyer Salvador Panelo, who was the chief presidential legal counsel under the Duterte administration, said that Duterte did not enter into any agreement with China not to maintain BRP Sierra Madre.

Panelo said that anyone who said Duterte had a deal with China over the shoal was seeking publicity for himself.

A resolution urging the Senate to investigate the supposed gentleman's agreement was filed by opposition Senator Risa Hontiveros.

In August 2023, China said that the Philippines had "promised several times" to tow away the Sierra Madre. The camps of former presidents, including Duterte, denied making such a vow. — BM, GMA Integrated News