The joint seismic study agreement the Philippines struck with China in 2004 preparatory to oil exploration in the disputed Spratlys covers an area that laps the western shores of Philippines, Malaya was able to establish yesterday.
Statement of Rep. Roilo Golez (Parañaque):
Former Speaker Jose de Venecia should tell everything that he knows about the origins and background of ther Tripartite Agreement for Joint Marine Seismic Undertaking inthe Agreement Area in the South China Sea signed March 14, 2005 especially his role in the initiation, negotiation and signing of the agreement and who else in the hierarchy of the government had a hand in the Agreement.
Related article: Cat is out of the bag
by Wendell Vigilia
Rep. Roilo Golez (Ind., Parañaque) has called for a House investigation into the “Spratly deal” between the Philippine and Chinese governments in exchange for what he called anomalous deals such as the $329 million national broadband network and the $500 million NorthRail project.
“Already, this issue has been swirling with dangerous implications in defense and security-related eGroups (e-mail groups) and must be clarified urgently in a formal forum such as a congressional inquiry,” Golez said.
Detained Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV has filed a resolution calling for an inquiry into the “Spratly deal” which he alleged was entered into by the Arroyo administration with China “in exchange for dirty loans.”
Following are two articles that I wrote four years ago about the super-secret agreement on the exploration in the South China Sea with China and Vietnam.
Why the secrecy?
Malaya, Sept. 10, 2004
ONE of the agreements signed during President Arroyo’s recent visit to China was on Joint Marine Seismic Undertaking in the South China Sea between the Philippine National Oil Company and the China National Offshore Oil Company.
Sellout of territory seen as ‘greed without moderation’
The United Opposition yesterday asked the Senate to act on a resolution filed by detained Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV calling for an inquiry into the “Spratly Deal” allegedly entered into by the Arroyo administration with China “in exchange for dirty loans.”
Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay, UNO president, said if Arroyo has indeed signed the deal allowing China to explore Philippine territorial waters, “she has given away our sovereignty to a foreign power in exchange for loans that are the source of multi-million-peso kickbacks and a campaign war chest for the 2010 elections.”
Click here for Inquirer’s report on “No Fly Zone”
From ABS-CBN Online:
Retired officials of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), the wives of the jailed military officers , and other participants in the failed Peninsula Manila rebellion were also present in the inter-faith rally in Makati Friday, ABS-CBN News reported.
The retired military officials said that while their colleagues could not speak up they will represent their voice, ABS-CBN News correspondent Ces Oreña-Drilon reported.
We have received reports that the PNP will block people going to the Interfaith rally in Makati which will start at 4:30 p.m. Friday, Feb.…
Last Tuesday, as Filipinos were glued to their radio and TV sets following the latest development in the great rip-off, which is the NBN/ZTE deal, detained Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV filed Resolution No. 309 asking the Senate to investigate the agreement signed by Gloria Arroyo with China in September 2004 to explore areas in the South China Sea including parts belonging exclusively to the Philippines.
Trillanes’ resolution directs the Committees on Accountability of Public Officers and Investigations (Blue Ribbon), National Defense and Security, and Environment and Natural Resources to undertake the investigation after Malaya came out with a report last week that what Malacañang once dubbed as a “landmark” agreement to jointly explore parts of the disputed islands in the Spratlys is actually a “treacherous sellout of Philippine interest and Philippine sovereignty in exchange fro overpriced loans for anomalous projects which include the ZTE-NBN deal, the North Rail and South Rail projects, the Department of Education’s Cyber-Ed project among others.”
Update: Allaga orders probe of alleged US medling in Sulu hospital
Rasul asks US to ship out its soldiers from Sulu See complete press statement in comments below.
by Julie Alipala
Inquirer
Mindanao Bureau
Zamboanga City, Philippines — US soldiers in Sulu have apologized for ordering health officials to shut down the government-run hospital in Panamao town during night time, Sulu Governor Abdusakur Tan said Monday.
Earlier, Dr. Silak Lakkian, chief of the Panamao district hospital, said US forces led by a Master Sergeant Ronburg have threatened to shoot anybody seen at the hospital premises after 6 p.m.
Update: Bernardo denies applying for Spanish citizenship.
He said. “A check with the Spanish embassy on the veracity of this statement will certainly substantiate my claim.”
He did not apply with the Spanish embassy in Manila. His letter was addressed to Sr. Mendez, then a member of the Spanish parliament who is also a member ofthe cabinet.
by Anthony Ian Cruz
Bernardo’s letter
Joseph Delano M. Bernardo, Philippine ambassador to Spain, has sought Spanish citizenship, to be taken up after his service with the government.