Trillanes wants ‘Spratly deal’ probed in Senate

Detained senator Antonio Trillanes IV on Wednesday pushed for a Senate inquiry into a so-called "Spratly Deal" involving the alleged sellout of Philippine sovereignty to China in exchange for overpriced loans for "anomalous" projects. Trillanes, in Senate Resolution 309, asked the Blue Ribbon, defense and environment committees to undertake the Senate investigation into the matter. "If proven to be true, the same apparently amounts to betrayal of public trust and treason, for which Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and the other responsible members of her government should be held accountable," he said. Trillanes said the projects believed tainted with overpriced loans include the $329.48-million ZTE broadband network deal, the Cyber-Education project, and the Northrail and Southrail projects. In seeking the investigation, Trillanes cited an article in the Far Eastern Economic Review where the Philippines "made breathtaking concessions in agreeing to the area for study, including parts of its own continental shelf not even claimed by China and Vietnam." On the other hand, he said President Arroyo caused the signing of the "Agreement for Seismic Undertaking for Certain Areas in the South China Sea by and Between China National Offshore Oil Corporation and Philippine National Oil Company" in 2004. He said the deal prompted Vietnam, another claimant to the Spratly Islands, to voice concern and note the deal was done without consultation. Vietnam eventually stopped its objections in 2005 when it joined China and the Philippines in turning the agreement into a tripartite undertaking, Trillanes said. "It appears that the Arroyo government did not consult the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Philippine Navy when it negotiated and signed the subject agreement," Trillanes said. He added the agreement is tantamount to "effectively giving away the national patrimony as it actually concedes the exploration and exploitation of natural resources to foreigners which, under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Seas, clearly fall within the archipelagic waters, exclusive economic zone and continental shelf of the Philippines." On the other hand, Trillanes said the deal should have been considered a treaty instead of being considered a mere commercial contract as it involves national defense and security, national sovereignty, and the national patrimony. "This action and actuation of the government of Mrs Arroyo apparently constitute yet another attempt to circumvent the Constitution and to undermine the powers vested by the Constitution upon the Senate," he said. - GMANews.TV