MANILA, Philippines — As expected, officials of the previous Duterte administration pointed fingers at previous administrations, particularly the Aquino regime, for the “gentleman’s agreement” with China.

Former Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea reignited controversy by blaming the Aquino administration for a secret agreement with China, now known as the “gentleman’s agreement,” which purportedly restricted supplies to the BRP Sierra Madre stationed at Ayungin Shoal.

Medialdea asserted that the arrangement, allowing only food and water to be delivered to the stranded vessel, was made in 2013 under President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III’s administration.

“The information I gathered was that there was a previous commitment that food and water would be allowed to be shipped to the debilitated vessel since 2013,” he said, attributing the deal to former Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin and then-Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Ma Keqing.

The revelation has sparked accusations and counterclaims, particularly given the 2016 arbitration ruling that favored the Philippines by invalidating China’s extensive claims over the South China Sea.

Critics of Medialdea’s statements highlight that the Aquino administration was responsible for this landmark victory, raising questions about the Duterte administration’s compliance with a supposed agreement from a previous regime.

Despite assuming office just days before the arbitration decision, Medialdea emphasized that the Duterte administration merely honored the existing 2013 arrangement.

“We had to follow that for us to move on,” he explained. He also clarified that the agreement did not extend to delivering repair materials to the BRP Sierra Madre, only essentials like food and water.

Former Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana and Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Assistant Secretary Aileen Mendiola-Rau both stated they had no knowledge of such an agreement.

Lorenzana noted that the Duterte administration did manage minor repairs on the vessel in 2021 to ensure troop comfort.

Further complicating the narrative, Medialdea denied the existence of any new “gentleman’s agreement” between Duterte and Chinese President Xi Jinping.

He claimed that during official meetings between the two leaders in November 2018 and August 2019, no such arrangement was discussed.

“President Duterte, being a lawyer, knew fully well that it was foolhardy to enter into an agreement, especially a gentleman’s agreement at that, with the president of the People’s Republic of China on matters involving sovereign rights,” Medialdea stated.

The Duterte administration, frequently criticized for its perceived pro-China stance, particularly by those who see Duterte as a puppet of Xi Jinping, faces scrutiny over its handling of the South China Sea disputes.

Representative Neptali Gonzales II questioned why Duterte maintained a status quo policy despite the arbitration ruling affirming the Philippines’ sovereign rights over Ayungin Shoal.

“The arbitral court declared that Ayungin was ours. We could have done what we wanted to do there. In fact, we could do anything, but we did not,” Gonzales said.

Former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque previously suggested that Duterte had indeed agreed to a “status quo” arrangement with China, limiting Philippine actions in the contested waters.

However, Salvador Panelo, Duterte’s chief presidential legal counsel, and Medialdea both denied this claim.