EDITORIAL — Who is making these “deals”?

According to the Chinese Embassy, a “new model” arrangement has been agreed upon by Beijing and the Philippines regarding our conduct in Ayungin Shoal. “Conduct” being an operative word for how we allegedly agreed to stay away.

However, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said no such agreement was reached.

"The DFA reiterates its firm position that the Philippines has not entered into any agreement abandoning its sovereign rights and jurisdiction over its exclusive economic zone and continental shelf, including on the Ayungin Shoal," the department said.

Three things could be happening here.

First, it could be plain misinformation tactics. It’s not the first time Beijing insists on something being true regarding their claims in the West Philippine Sea.

Second, Beijing could have negotiated with other agencies in the Philippine government without the knowledge of higher officials or of the DFA, with whom it is supposed to be directly dealing with. In that case, such a deal cannot be considered valid or binding.

Third, Beijing did indeed deal in good faith with someone during the previous administration, or even recently, who made some concessions they found to their advantage. If this is the case it must be determined who made such agreements and what, if anything, was promised.

Much of the details of the visit of former president Rodrigo Duterte to China President Xi Jinping after he had stepped down from office are still shrouded in mystery. Did he make such deals then? Or was he still in power when he himself or someone he authorized made some arrangements not known to the rest of the country? Arrangements that Beijing feels were not kept.

Former Senior Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonio Carpio is right in calling for finding out who is making such “deals” with Beijing, if there are even such deals in the first place.

For one reason or another it might be one of our own making deals that aren’t advantageous to our sovereignty. He, she, or they must be found, made to explain their actions, then made to face due process. As we said earlier, there can be no bigger betrayal.