Teodoro rejects oil exploration with China, says ‘no legal basis’

MANILA — Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. on Tuesday reiterated his opposition to joint oil and gas exploration with China in the West Philippine Sea, saying Beijing has no valid claim over the area and that there is no legal basis for such an arrangement.

Teodoro made the remarks in separate interviews with ANC and DZMM Teleradyo after the Chinese Embassy in Manila accused him of sabotaging a 2018 framework agreement for joint oil and gas exploration between the Philippines and China.

In his interview with ANC, Teodoro clarified that the earlier joint maritime survey initiated during the administration of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo had been declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court.

He also said the 2018 framework was cancelled by former President Rodrigo Duterte in 2022 because of potential constitutional issues.

“To set the record straight, in the joint survey that was started by President Arroyo, it was declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court, and the 2018 framework was cancelled by no less than former President Duterte in 2022 for being potentially constitutionally problematic upon the advice of then-Secretary Teodoro Locsin, not me,” Teodoro said.

The defense chief said he would oppose any similar arrangement with China, citing the 2016 South China Sea Arbitral Award.

“Now, assuming I were in the same situation, I would go with the decision 100% because it is unconstitutional and there is no basis for a joint exploration talk with China, particularly when we consider the Arbitral Award saying that any claim they have in a disputed area is maybe contrived and not subject to UNCLOS [United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea],” he added.

In a separate interview with DZMM Teleradyo, Teodoro again rejected the idea of joint exploration.

“Kung ako naman ang pinararatangan, eh hindi ko naman tatalikuran dahil ako’y tututol talaga diyan sa joint oil and gas exploration dahil walang legal basis ‘yan. Wala silang valid claim doon sa disputed areas. Bakit tayo makikipag-usap sa kanila na ginagawa lang nila ‘yan?” Teododo said.

He then continued, “Pangalawa, hindi lang bawal ‘yan sa Saligang Batas, kundi sa Arbitral Award… So, wala tayong basis makipag-usap sa kanila dahil wala tayong overlapping claims.”

The defense chief also clarified that the Chinese Embassy may have confused him with former Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr.

“Nagkamali talaga [sila]. Pero maghahabol na naman ‘yan. Sigurado ako sasabihin nil ana tinututulan ko ang way forward ngayon. Eh talagang tinututulan ko dahil hindi legal ito,” Teodoro stressed.