Malacanang yesterday assured the public that the Philippines’ proposed joint oil and gas exploration with China in the South China Sea (West Philippine Sea) will stand legal scrutiny.
Palace spokesman Salvador Panelo made the statement after opposition lawmakers asked the Senate Committee on Energy to investigate the potential deals on oil and gas exploration in the West Philippine Sea.
“We assure that any agreement that we will enter into with a foreign government or entity would stand the judicial scrutiny of both countries and its constitutionality, if challenged, would be upheld,” Panelo said.
On Monday, Senators Francis Pangilinan and Antonio Trillanes 4th filed Senate Resolution 943, which aims to conduct an inquiry into the proposed joint exploration with China in disputed waters.
The senators claimed that China had produced a draft deal titled “Framework Agreement on Joint Maritime Oil and Gas Exploration between China and the Philippines.”
Panelo said the Senate “is free to conduct an inquiry in aid of legislation on a potential deal on oil and gas exploration with China.”
He, however, added that any release of documents would be premature as a contract is yet to be signed between the two countries.
“Any demand for a release of documents pertaining thereto at this time, however, is premature and could be prejudicial to our country’s interests given that parties have yet to ink any agreement on the matter,” Panelo said.
The Palace official said the government will not jeopardise the country when entering into any agreement with foreigners.
“We respect the Senate as an independent co-equal branch of government and welcome whatever congressional or legislative action its members may want to undertake,” Panelo said. “In the same manner, we likewise expect respect from them by allowing us to do our job as we perform activities which are rightfully within the scope of executive faculty.”
The Philippines is racing to tap oil resources in the disputed sea as the Malampaya natural gas field off Palawan can only supply gas up to 2029.|
The previous Aquino administration, which hailed China to a United Nations-backed tribunal over the dispute, has refused to conduct joint exploration and exploitation with Beijing, saying the latter only wants to play by its rules.
Panelo: legal assurance
