Gibo denies China claim on Ayungin deal

Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro Jr. has again clarified that there is no internal or gentleman's agreement between the Philippines and China on the Ayungin Shoal, particularly on the fate of the BRP Sierra Madre.

- MICHAEL PUNONGBAYAN

"The Department of National Defense is not aware of, nor is it a party to, any internal agreement with China on Ayungin Shoal since President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr took office," Teodoro said in a statement.

"As a matter of fact, the Department of National Defense has not had any contact with any Chinese government officials since last year," he said.

A spokesperson at China's embassy in Manila said on April 18 that the two countries had agreed early this year to a "new model" in managing tensions in the Ayungin Shoal, without elaborating.

"The narrative that unnamed or unidentified Chinese officials are propagating is another crude attempt to advance a falsehood," the DND chief said.

He said spreading of falsehood is part of the Chinese propaganda effort to steer the Filipinos' attention away from the real cause of the tensions in the West Philippine Sea, which is "China's obstinate refusal to adhere to UNCLOS, which they are a signatory to."

"We will never enter into any agreement that will compromise our sovereignty and sovereign rights under the UNCLOS, as affirmed by the 2016 Arbitral Ruling," Teodoro said, referring to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.