Gov’t, pressed to divulge “Terms of Reference” on joint oil and gas exploration in Recto Bank
Manila, Philippines – The national fisherfolk group Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (PAMALAKAYA) on Tuesday slammed the signed terms of reference for the joint oil and gas exploration in Recto Bank, which according to the group, is “terms of treachery” that is “one step closer to complete surrender of our territory and national patrimony to China at the cost of the Filipino people and the resource potentials and reserves in the entire West Philippine Sea.”
The terms of reference for the joint oil and gas exploration between China and the Philippines in Recto Bank (internationally known as Reed Bank) was signed by Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro “Teddy Boy” Locsin and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi this month.
In a statement, PAMALAKAYA said the government must reveal to the public the content of the signed document and make it open for public scrutiny.
“Patago na ngang pinirmahan ang dokumento, itinatago pa sa publiko ang laman. Teritoryo at patrimonya ng bansa ang nakataya sa kasunduang papasukin ng gobyerno ng Pilipinas sa China. Karapatan ng mamamayang Pilipino na malaman ang kabuuang nilalaman nito para dumaan sa malalimang pagsusuri,” Fernando Hicap, PAMALAKAYA National Chairperson said in a statement.
Hicap, a former Anakpawis Partylist Representative slated President Rodrigo Duterte, who is scheduled to have talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping on a working visit to China this week, as a “traitor to the country, the constitution, and the Filipino people” for fast tracking the joint exploration with the Chinese aggressor in the West Philippine Sea.
“Kating-kati si Duterte na ituloy ang kasunduang joint exploration sa China sa kabila nang ginagawang pangangamkam nito sa ating teritoryo at panghaharas sa mga Pilipinong mangingisda. Talagang lumabas pa ang balitang katraydurang ito, isang araw matapos ang National Heroes Day. Nananawagan kami sa mamamayang Pilipino na maging mapagbantay sa mga di-pantay na kasunduang papasukin ni Pangulong Duterte sa China na masasalang ang ating pambansang soberanya at patrimonya,” ended Hicap. ###
