Mystery 5th columnist
The senator, whose claim to fame was the failed mutinies he led during the term of former President Arroyo, also accused Del Rosario of treason in closely dealing with the Americans.
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Daily TribuneThe senator, whose claim to fame was the failed mutinies he led during the term of former President Arroyo, also accused Del Rosario of treason in closely dealing with the Americans.
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A review of the so-called Brady notes, which contain the observations and reports of the late former Ambassador to China Sonia Brady on the back-channeling mission of former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, may indicate closure to the question of who tried to sell the Philippine territory to China.
Last 8 August, the Chinese Foreign Ministry issued a statement claiming that the Philippines has "explicitly promised several times" that it will tow away BRP Sierra Madre from Ren'ai Jiao or the Ayungin Shoal.
Beijing issued the intriguing statement following the hosing of a Philippine Navy boat on a resupply mission for the grounded vessel, which serves as an outpost manned by a platoon of Philippine Marine soldiers.
Subsequently, former President Joseph Estrada, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, and Rodrigo Duterte denied making such a commitment.
While Beijing can be engaged in a propaganda offensive to divide the nation by sowing distrust in Philippine leaders, the question remains: Who is capable of such an audacious and treasonous offer?
When then-Senator Juan Ponce Enrile, now the Chief Presidential Legal Counsel, divulged the Brady notes during a confrontation with Trillanes, the nation was astounded by the clandestine moves.
What transpired then eventually resulted in China's occupation of the disputed West Philippine Sea areas, including Scarborough or Panatag Shoal, which became an island after a rushed reclamation project.
Significantly, the notes were taken at the height of the standoff between the Philippines and China in 2012 over an incident in which a Philippine Navy ship arrested Chinese poachers.
The use of the gray ship touched off a response from China to aggressively exert its claim.
According to the notes passed on to Enrile, Trillanes encroached on the functions of Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario in dealing with Chinese officials regarding the standoff.
In a meeting in Malacañang called by the late President Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III, where Trillanes, Del Rosario, and Enrile were present, the senator insisted on a bilateral approach instead of putting the territorial conflict to arbitration.
It is noteworthy that Trillanes insisted on a method that China solely accepts.
"The poor Secretary of Foreign Affairs was being pilloried by this Novato in foreign relations, accusing him of not knowing his job," Enrile said.
The senator, whose claim to fame was the failed mutinies he led during the term of former President Arroyo, also accused Del Rosario of treason in closely dealing with the Americans.
President Rodrigo Duterte later revealed that Trillanes met with the Chinese in the backdoor negotiations 16 times.
During the meetings, Enrile said that Trillanes had been quietly, secretly, clandestinely engaging the Chinese about the Scarborough Shoal and the West Philippine Sea.
There were occasions when even Aquino was not aware of the whereabouts or actions of Trillanes.
Based on the notes as quoted by Enrile, Trillanes told the Chinese that the Philippines cannot enforce coastal protection.
Also in the notes was a statement from Trillanes that most Filipinos are not interested in the West Philippine Sea dispute.
The Senator also insisted on an alternate channel so that communications with China could go directly to the palace, thus bypassing the Department of Foreign Affairs.
Contrary to claims that the Americans mediated to end the Scarborough Shoal stalemate, the Brady notes indicated there was no meeting with high American officials except for former United States Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Kurt Campbell, who was not authorized to negotiate.
The botched joint withdrawal was mainly the idea of Trillanes. Philippine ships withdrew, but the Chinese stayed in the area up to this day.
So, back to the ultimate mystery: Who promised China that Siera Madre would be hauled off?
Since Noynoy passed away, only Trillanes knows.
