Ex-ES denies Duterte-Xi 'gentleman's agreement'

Former executive secretary Salvador Medialdea denied allegations of a "gentleman's agreement" between former president Rodrigo Duterte and Chinese President Xi Jinping, stating that no such pact was made during their official meetings.

Medialdea described entering such an agreement on sovereign rights as "foolhardy," given Duterte's legal background.

He attended two specific meetings between Duterte and Xi: Xi's state visit to the Philippines in November 2018 and Duterte's official visit to China in August 2019.

Medialdea noted that Duterte was accompanied by his Secretaries of Foreign Affairs in all eight official meetings with Xi from October 2016 to August 2019.

During a joint hearing of the House of Representatives committees, former DND secretary Delfin Lorenzana recalled Duterte asserting Philippine rights over the West Philippine Sea based on UNCLOS and the arbitral ruling during their last meeting in 2019.

Lorenzana also recounted Xi's response that the maritime dispute might not be resolved within their lifetime, but perhaps by future generations.