MANILA – The Marcos administration on Saturday distanced itself from “unsubstantiated or imaginary promises” of alleged secret non-binding gentlemen’s agreements or deals aimed at creating distractions, divisions, and conflict.

National Security Council (NSC) Adviser Eduardo Año stated in a Saturday (20 April 2024) release that President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has been unequivocal in asserting that his administration is unaware of any secret or gentleman’s agreement regarding its territories.

“If such agreements were made under a previous administration, they have since been nullified,” Año declared.

He emphasized that any such agreements if proven true, would be detrimental to national interest and the constitution.

“If such agreements exist, it is the duty of those accountable to elucidate them to the Filipino people, but they are not and will never be binding under this administration,” Año affirmed.

He urged all Filipinos to resist and counteract “corrosive narratives” seeking to undermine national interests.

“We must not succumb to tactics aiming to sow division in our nation and weaken our determination in asserting our sovereignty, sovereign rights, and jurisdiction in the West Philippine Sea,” he asserted.

During the Saturday News Forum in Quezon City, NSC Assistant Director General Jonathan Malaya reassured that the President enjoys full support from the police and the military.

“The National Security Adviser’s call is for us to shield our Armed Forces and the Philippine National Police from partisan political activities. Let us refrain from exploiting them because, in any democracy, the Armed Forces are expected to remain neutral and apolitical – regardless of any change in administration, the commander-in-chief remains the same,” Malaya stated.

“They will not waver in their allegiance to the President just because someone requests it. They are professionals who understand the chain of command, respect the military hierarchy, and remain loyal to the current Commander-In-Chief, President Bongbong Marcos,” Malaya added.

(el Amigo/MNM)