Senator Imee Marcos on Sunday, March 31 said she sees nothing irregular with former president Rodrigo Duterte entering a “gentleman’s agreement” with Chinese Xi Jinping supposedly to maintain the status quo in the West Philippine Sea when he was in office. 

The sister of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. said it is normal for any chief executive to do his part in maintaining the peace and order situation within the country’s maritime territory through verbal agreements.

“Exaggerated naman, OA (over-acting) naman ang reaction nila,” Marcos said in an interview on Radio DZBB when asked about insinuations that what the former president committed was tantamount to treason.

“Ang akin lang, kailangan kasi dapat makipag-usap, dahil pag nilagay mo sa panganib—sundalo man o sibilyan—ang buhay ng isang pilipino, iresponsable kang opisyal (In my view, there is really a need to dialogue, because if you put in danger the life of a Filipino—whether a soldier or civilian—then you are an irresponsible official),” she further said.

“Wag natin ilalagay sa panganib yung buhay ng mga Pilipino (Let’s not put the lives of Filipinos in danger),” she stressed. 

Marcos’ statement comes after former Supreme Court Justice Antonio Carpio said Duterte surrendered the Philippines’ sovereign rights over Ayungin Shoal disguised as a “gentleman’s agreement” with Xi.

The said agreement was about Manila’s maintenance and repair of the BRP Sierra Madre, a Philippine Navy vessel which is grounded in Ayungin Shoal which is part of the disputed area.

According to Carpio, the agreement was in violation of the July 12, 2016 Arbitral Tribunal’s ruling recognizing the shoal as part of the country’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ). 

But Marcos insisted there was nothing wrong with Duterte agreeing to an agreement to ensure stability in the area.

“Practical lang yung pinag-usapan nila…Malaking bagay na nag-uusap sila kasi sabi naman ni (dating) Presidente Duterte, nakikisuyo siya na pwede wag guluhin yung mga Pilipino na nagdadala ng pagkain at pangangailangan dyan sa kapwa sundalo sa BRP Sierra Madre (Their agreement was just practical.. it was a huge deal for them to talk, because according to former President Duterte, he just appealed that they stopped harassing the Filipinos who bring food and other basic necessities of their fellow soldiers stationed at BRP Sierra Madre),” she pointed out. 

Marcos said she can only hope that the government finds the necessity to immediately accelerate its self-reliant defense posture in order to be able to negotiate against other intruders in the West Philippine Sea, noting that there are other claimants in the South China Sea.

“Wala tayong masyadong ginagawa sa self-reliant defense posture (natin). Hanggang ngayon namamalimos pa rin tayo ng mga armas kung saan saan—mga secondhand, bulok na helicopter, drone..(We don’t anything for our self-reliant defense posture. Until now, we beg for arms from different places—secondhand, old helicopters, drones),” she lamented. 

Marcos said the government cannot afford to rely on the United States (US) for its defense and security needs. 

“Huwag tayo masyadong umasa sa kaalyado. Magpatibay tayo, maging self-reliant. Ibig sabihin buhayin natin ulit ang defense manufacturing industry ng Pilipinas (Let’s not rely too much on our allies. Let’s strengthen ourself; let’s be self-reliant. Which means, let’s revive the Philippine’s defense manufacturing industry),” the lawmaker reiterated.