MANILA, Philippines – Former Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile on Monday night questioned the appointment of former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV by then-President Noynoy Aquino to be the country’s negotiator to China during the 2012 West Philippine Sea standoff.
During President Rodrigo Duterte’s weekly public address, Enrile recalled that when he was Senate President, Aquino summoned him to Malacañang with Trillanes and former Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario to discuss the situation in the Scarborough Shoal.
“Bini-briefing kami ni Del Rosario tungkol doon sa nangyari sa Scarborough Shoal at mukhang nagkaroon ng alitan ang pangkat natin at pangkat ng Tsina doon,” he said.
The 97-year old former lawmaker said it was during that time that he was informed about Trillanes’ talks with China regarding the standoff under the orders of Aquino.
He said he questioned Trillanes’ authority to conduct such negotiations, as well as his connections in Beijing.
“Ngayon sinabi ni Trillanes na nagpunta siya sa Tsina at kinausap niya ang mga namumuno sa Tsina tungkol doon sa problema na yun. Ako naman, bilang presidente ng Senado noon, tinanong ko sa kanya, ‘anong karapatan mo na magpunta sa Tsina? Yun ba ay kusang loob mo lamang na magpunta roon?’” he said.
“Sabi niya, ‘Hindi, nagpunta ako doon, may authority ako.’ Sabi ko ‘Sinong nag-utos sa iyo na pumunta roon?’ pagkatapos sumagot si President Aquino, ang sabi niya ‘Ako ang nag-utos sa kanya,’” Enrile said, quoting their exchange.
Enrile said he remembers telling Aquino to be wary of such move as they are not fully aware of Trillanes’ negotiations with China.
“Sinabi ko kay President Aquino na ‘Dahan-dahan, Mr. President, medyo masalimuot yata yan sapagkat hindi natin alam kung ano ang mga pinag-usapan nila at ni Trillanes doon sa mga kinakausap niya sa Tsina kaya mag-iingat tayo,’” he said.
Enrile also claimed that Sonia Brady, the Philippines’ envoy to China at the time, had complained of Trillanes’ actions of “bypassing” immigration protocols.
“Pagkatapos nun, si Secretary Del Rosario, binigyan ako ng sulat ni Ambassador Brady natin sa Tsina na nagrereklamo na itong si Trillanes ay bina-bypass siya,” he said.
“Yun pala, si Trillanes ay pasok at labas sa Tsina na tila hindi na dumadaan sa immigration dahil inuutusan yata siya ni Presidente Aquino, kaya sinabihan ko sila na dapat huwag nating gawin yun sapagkat bansa ang nauukol dito, magkaroon ng mediation,” he added.
In response to Enrile’s claims, Trillanes told the former senator to check his facts.
“Why did I bypass Amb. Brady? Check your facts Mr. Enrile. Amb. Brady first went to Beijing in early August or late July when I was wrapping up the backchannel talks. SHE WAS NEVER PRESENT AT ANY BACKCHANNEL MEETING FROM MAY TO JULY,” he wrote on Twitter.
“Upon her arrival, at the first instance, I briefed her on the whole talks at the Ph Embassy WITH NO CHINESE PRESENT. That was the only time I met her. After that briefing, I concluded the backchannel talks,” he added.
Why did I bypass Amb. Brady? Check your facts Mr. Enrile. Amb. Brady first went to Beijing in early August or late July when I was wrapping up the backchannel talks. SHE WAS NEVER PRESENT AT ANY BACKCHANNEL MEETING FROM MAY TO JULY.
— Sonny Trillanes IV (@TrillanesSonny) May 17, 2021
To recall, the Philippines and China were involved in a three-month standoff near the Scarborough Shoal in June 2012. Tensions began in April when the Philippine Navy attempted to arrest the crewmembers of eight Chinese fishing vessels illegally hauling corals and clams near the shoal but was blocked by Chinese maritime surveillance ships.
Trillanes, then a senator, was sent to conduct backdoor negotiations with China to diffuse the tension in the West Philippine Sea.
The United States brokered the deal to resolve the standoff by asking both parties to withdraw their ships. The Philippines complied with agreement but China did not retreat from the area.
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