By Junex Doronio

MANILA — Taking note of the so-called “gentleman’s agreement” between former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte and China, Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Gilberto “Gibo” Teodoro, Jr. on Tuesday (2 April 2024) urged Filipinos to “not lose sight” of China’s illegal activities in the West Philippine Sea.

This developed as National Security Adviser (NSA) Eduardo Año and his US counterpart Jake Sullivan reaffirmed the alliance between the two countries following the recent incidents of harassment by China’s forces within the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the Philippines.

“Let us not fall into the trap set by Chinese propaganda of refocusing the debate on a so-called promise while deflecting attention away from China’s government, thereby freeing and allowing them to continue with their illegal activities in our EEZ,” Teodoro stressed.

To recall, former Palace spokesman Harry Roque earlier claimed that then-President Duterte and Chinese President Xi Jinping struck what he called a “gentleman’s agreement” to maintain the status quo in Ayungin Shoal where the BRP Sierra Madre, a rusting World War Two ship, is grounded and has become a symbol of the country’s sovereignty over the area.

But Roque clarified that FPRRD made no specific “agreement” on Ayungin Shoal.

He said that the deal made with China was to “respect the status quo” in the entire West Philippine Sea.

However, Duterte’s presidential adviser Salvador Panelo claimed in an interview over SMNI on Monday (01 April 2024) that the ex-president “did not enter” any gentleman’s agreement.

“While we realize that accountability is important in the issue of whether or not a so-called ‘gentleman’s agreement’ was forged with China regarding the BRP Sierra Madre and Ayungin Shoal, we Filipinos must not lose sight of the fact that the main threat to our rights in the WPS is the Chinese Government’s illegal activities,” the defense chief stood firm in a statement.

Ayungin Shoal is called Ren’ai Jiao by China.

(el Amigo/MNM)

By Junex Doronio

MANILA — Aware of the formidable military might of China, Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro has underscored the importance of the Philippines’ relationship with its old ally United States as tensions in the West Philippine Sea persists.

This came on the heels of what appeared to be China’s “calculated show of force when Chinese ships staged a rare “invasion” of Ayungin or Second Thomas Shoal in the WPS.

Citing satellite images by Planet Labs, Ray Powell, SeaLight director at the Gordian Knot Center for National Security Innovation, revealed that on Monday, December 11, as many as 11 Chinese maritime militia vessels were observed in the Ayungin Shoal.

“This highly unusual invasion of the shoal’s interior appears to have been a calculated show of force by Beijing,” Powell wrote in an analysis on the SeaLight website on Thursday, December 14.

On Friday, December 15, Teodoro said he believes Beijing is “converting the South China Sea into a lake of China” by strategically deploying its coast guard, not its military vessels, in the disputed waterway.

To recall, China has long been insisting that it owns virtually the whole of the South China Sea, including the WPS.

It also does not recognize the 2016 arbitral award by a UN-backed court invalidating its 9-dash nine claim.

“[US support] translates to several things, more importantly our concrete iterations of helping us in our capability upgrades so we have more robust defense system to be able to enforce our territorial jurisdiction and sovereignty,” Teodoro stressed.

(ai/mnm)

By Liezelle Soriano

IPINAGTANGGOL ni Defense Secretary Gilberto “Gibo” Teodoro ang hinihiling na P150 milyong confidential funds ng Department of Education.

Para sa 2024, iminungkahi ng DepEd ang nasabing confidential funds kaugnay ng seguridad ng mga estudyante.

Subalit tinutulan ito ng mga mambabatas at sinabing dapat ipaubaya ang surveillance activities sa intelligence gathering agencies ng pamahalaan.

“The youth are the most impressionable targets for potential influencing,” sabi ni Teodoro sa panayam sa ANC nang tanungin kung sang-ayon siya sa confidential funds ng DepEd.

“I mean they would be the most vulnerable targets for exploitation by malefactors or those who wish ill against this country.”

Ngunit ipinunto ni Teodoro na ang mga ahensiya na humihirit ng confidential funds ay dapat bigyang-katwiran ang kanilang kahilingan.