By Junex Doronio
MANILA — Having no love lost between him and the feisty ex-president, former coup plotter and ex-Senator Antonio “Sonny” Trillanes IV on Saturday (16 March 2024) directly castigated former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte for allegedly selling the Philippines to China during the latter’s administration.
Trillanes fired his shot after The Manila Times quoted an anonymous ranking Chinese official in its report this week that there was an “understanding” made during the Duterte administration that the Philippines “would not bring in large-scale building materials to Ayungin Shoal.”
He added that in return, China reportedly agreed to allow the Philippines to send one vessel to conduct rotation and resupply missions to Filipino soldiers stationed at the BRP Sierra Madre, the Philippine outpost in the disputed waters.
“Si duterte pala ang may secret deal with China re WPS na inamin mismo ng China. Tapos kami raw ni PNoy ang nagbenta ng Scarborough kahit si PNoy nga ang nagpabasura ng 9-dash line sa Arbitral Tribunal. Mambubudol talaga tong taong to,” Trillanes wrote in X (formerly Twitter).
He was referring to Duterte’s allegation during his administration that Trillanes “sold” Scarborough Shoal (Panatag Shoal) to China when former President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III was in office.
Meanwhile, the Department of Foreign Affairs on March 12 said it was surprised by China’s disclosure of “sensitive details” in its bilateral negotiations.
“As Ayungin Shoal is a part of the exclusive economic zone of the Philippines, the proposal of China could not be considered by the Philippines without violating the Philippine Constitution or international law,” the DFA stood firm.
(el Amigo/MNM)
