Akbayan Partylist Rep. Chel Diokno moves to bring joint oil and gas talks with China under congressional oversight, pushing for full transparency as negotiations continue in the West Philippine Sea.
Speaking during a press conference on Araw ng Kagitingan, Diokno said any agreement involving the country’s natural resources must be disclosed to the public. “Transparency should be a governing principle in our foreign and energy policies. Any agreement involving our natural resources is a public matter. The Filipino people have the right to know the terms, conditions, and concessions being negotiated with China,” he said.
Diokno is seeking congressional action on the issue, raising concerns over closed door negotiations and their implications on accountability and constitutional compliance. “Any agreement forged without transparency raises serious red flags. As such, we will ask Congress, particularly the House Committee on the West Philippine Sea, together with other relevant committees, to exercise oversight over these oil talks to ensure transparency, accountability, and adherence to the Constitution,” he added.
The push focuses on placing the negotiations under formal congressional review and requiring disclosure of the terms, conditions, and concessions in any agreement. Diokno pointed to the role of the House Committee on the West Philippine Sea and other relevant committees in exercising oversight to ensure transparency, accountability, and adherence to the Constitution. He also underscored that any joint exploration must comply with the Constitution governing the country’s natural resources.
