President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. is "horrified" to learn of the alleged gentleman's agreement made by his predecessor former president Rodrigo Duerte with China regarding the BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal in the West Philippine Sea.
Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Marcos revealed that his office was not informed about the agreement.
"We don’t know anything about it; there is no documentation, there is no record. We were not briefed. When I came into office, nobody told me that there is such agreement," he said.
"Kung ang sinasabi sa agreement na ‘yan na kailangan tayong magpermiso sa ibang bansa para gumalaw sa ating sariling teritoryo, mahirap sigurong sundan ‘yung ganyang klaseng agreement ….I am horrified by the idea that we have compromised into a secret agreement the territory, the sovereignty, and the sovereign rights of the Filipinos," he continued.
Marcos has yet to hear an explanation over the matter with the Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian.
"We still have it to clear it up, we are waiting for Ambassador Huang to come back from Beijing, umalis siya and I asked to see him. Baka siguro sa pagbalik niya, at ipaliwanag niya, sino ba ang kausap mo, sino ba talaga ang kausap mo, ano ang pinag-usapan niyo, ano ang pinag-agreehan niyo?'" the President continued.
"Kahit saan ka tumingin, walang records, so sikretong ginawa lahat ito. Bakit nila ginawa? Kung gagawin man nila, bakit pa nila ginawang sikreto? Nakakapagtaka nga eh; it’s not a good situation,” he added.
Asked if he is going to ask Duterte about the agreement, Marcos said his administration has been talking to officials of the previous administration but they have not received any straight response from them.
"They are talking to his former officials. Maybe not the President himself but his former officials. Tinatanong namin, ano ba 'yan? Paliwanag niyo naman sa amin para alam namin 'yung ginagawa namin," he said.
