Palace to pundits: Bring Spratly deal queries to court, not media

MANILA, Philippines - Cabinet Secretary Ricardo Saludo challenged Friday administration critics to question the “Spratly deal" before the Supreme Court to settle the validity and similar questions about the agreement. Saludo said instead of raising the issue before media, pundits blasting the Joint Marine Seismic Undertaking (JMSU) signed on Sept. 1, 2004 between the China National Offshore Oil Corp (CNOOC) and the Philippine National Oil Corp, (PNOC) should bring their queries to the proper forum like the courts. He said former Senate President Franklin Drilon, being a lawyer and a former justice secretary, should “know how to test the validity of any agreement." “Not by citing hearsay, but by raising the matter in the Supreme Court. Why does the opposition keep reporting to press statements and partisan hearings? Is it afraid of impartial due process?" he added. Drilon and several opposition members have questioned the “Spratly deal," which would now be investigated in the Senate. A similar resolution calling for an investigation into the agreement by the House of Representatives is also pending. Lawmakers claimed that if proven that President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo signed an agreement that may compromise the national territory, particularly the Philippine’s claim over the Kalayaan group of island or Spratlys, she could be liable for treason, which is an impeachable offense. Vice President Noli de Castro said he too wants to hear the side of Malacañang and the Department of Foreign Affairs on the matter. De Castro, in an ambush interview after the Women’s Month celebration in Malacañang, said he just learned of the agreement from media. Detained Senator Antonio Trillanes IV and Parañaque Rep. Roilo Golez filed separate resolutions in the Senate and the House calling for a probe on the “Spratly deal." The agreement was reportedly signed by the Philippines in exchange for billions of dollars worth of loans for projects like the national broadband network project, the cyber education project and the North and South Rail projects. The DFA earlier explained that the JMSU, which includes conduct of joint explorations and similar activities among the three claimants - China, Vietnam and the Philippines - "does not impinge on the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Philippines." The DFA added that the JMSU is "a landmark agreement that affirms the political commitment of three claimant states to approach their disputes in the South China Sea in a peaceful and constructive manner." The Philippines and China were the first signatories of the JMSU before Vietnam joined in the agreement. - GMANews.TV