‘POGO sa West Philippine Sea’? Teodoro again rejects joint oil exploration with China

Gilberto “Gibo” Teodoro Jr. on September 13, 2023. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News/FileMANILA — Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. on Wednesday reiterated his opposition to joint oil and gas exploration with China in the West Philippine Sea, maintaining that such an arrangement would be illegal.

Teodoro cited a Supreme Court ruling, constitutional concerns surrounding a previous framework, and the 2016 Arbitral Award on the South China Sea, which invalidated China’s expansive claims in the West Philippine Sea.

“‘Yung framework na sinasabi nila, na tinuturo nila sa akin, kinancel ni President Duterte mismo kasi may constitutional problem,” Teodoro told reporters on the sidelines of the 97th provincial anniversary celebration of Misamis Occidental in Oroquieta City.

(The framework they are talking about and that they are blaming me for was cancelled by President [Rodrigo] Duterte himself because there was a constitutional problem.)

Teodoro also argued that there is no basis for a joint exploration agreement because the Philippines and China do not have overlapping claims in the West Philippine Sea.

“Nakita naman natin ‘yung klase ng mga investments nila dito. Baka magkaroon ng POGO diyan sa West Philippine Sea,” Teodoro said in jest.

(We have seen the kind of investments they have here. A POGO might spring up in the West Philippine Sea.)

The Philippines terminated talks with China for a joint energy project in the South China Sea after Duterte ordered an end to negotiations in 2022.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. reopened the door to discussions in 2023 following a bilateral meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Manila’s foreign affairs department announced in March that “initial exchanges on potential oil and gas cooperation” had begun.

Pressed in August on whether a deal would be possible before the end of his term in two years, Marcos said: “Certainly”.

 In his message during the anniversary celebration, Teodoro told officials and residents of Misamis Occidental that the Philippines’ fight to defend its rights in the West Philippine Sea is ultimately about protecting the country’s resources for future generations of Filipinos.

“Ang sa Pilipino ay para sa Pilipino. ‘Yan ang sinisiguro ng ating Armed Forces of the Philippines,” the defense chief said.

(What is the Filipinos’ is for Filipinos. That is what the AFP will ensure.)

He also recognized the need for cooperation with neighboring countries and like-minded partners, but emphasized that such partnerships must be built on mutual trust.

“Kapag niloloko na tayo, bakit pa tayo makikipag-partner sa kanila? Kailangan ang makipag-partner sa atin ‘yung masaligan—‘yung mapagkakatiwalaan natin,” he added.

(If they are trying to fool us, why would we be partners with them. We should partner with those we can count on.) —With a report from Agence France-Presse