Gonzalez: 3 trillion cubic feet of gas at stake in Spratly deal

MANILA, Philippines - (Updated 4:58 p.m.) A controversial seismic exploration deal will help the Philippines go after some three trillion cubic feet of natural gas and oil in its claimed portion of the hotly contested Spratly Islands. On this note, Justice secretary Raul Gonzalez, who claimed the information came from the Philippine National Oil Company, called Sunday for a stop to questions regarding the deal. "I understand there are three trillion cubic feet of oil found already. That is bigger than Malampaya. Much, much bigger. It will really boost our national economy," Gonzalez told dzBB radio in an interview. "Dapat sana huwag na nating debatehin masyado para sa kabutihan ng Pilipinas (We should stop debating on this, because this is for the good of the Philippines)," he added. Though he did not elaborate, Gonzalez said the PNOC got its information from a British corporation. Gonzalez said that based on the data gathered by the PNOC, the Philippine government will not be financially capable of financing such a huge exploration project, which he referred to as a “seismic survey." He explained that gathering data does not always mean exploration. "Don't call it exploration, it's a seismic survey," Gonzalez stressed. On the other hand, he said this should stop debates surrounding the controversial agreement with China and Vietnam on the Spratly Islands. Senators have sought an investigation into the controversial deal despite Gonzalez's insistence that no exploration has been conducted yet. "If we end up in exploration, the company that will do the exploration must be 60% owned by Filipinos, or we can enter into service contracts," Gonzalez said. He also insisted the deal is not a basis for impeachment against President Arroyo, saying there is "no culpable violation, the president did not even sign that." "How could it be used against the President when she did not commit culpable violation of the constitution? The President did not even sign that," Gonzalez said, adding that critics of the administration should stop using the deal to advance their self-interest. Gonzalez also said that the President can enter into any agreement for exploration and exploitation of these natural resources, "provided these are private groups, the private groups must be 60% Filipino owned." Besides, he said that after the survey, the parties that signed the deal will go back to their respective governments for approval. In a press release of the Department of Justice issued over the weekend, Gonzalez also criticized former Senate President Franklin Drilon for questioning the validity of the tripartite agreement between the Philippines, China and Vietnam in 2004, when as Justice Secretary during the Aquino administration, Drilon actually issued a legal opinion in favor a similar deal between the Philippines and Australia. Gonzalez was referring to the August 27, 1990 DOJ Opinion No. 157, Series of 1990 where Drilon rendered an opinion in favor of the proposed seismic project to be undertaken by the government and Australia. In this opinion, Drilon stated that: “The proposed offshore seismic project aims to provide data and expertise to the Philippine government in the determination and development of significant domestic energy resources and to provide training and data gathering, processing and interpretation techniques which would be useful in the future especially to administer petroleum exploration and development activities effectively." - GMANews.TV