THE MAKABAYAN BLOC of legislators said it will file on April 3 a petition before the Supreme Court to order the government to withdraw from the Chico River Pump Irrigation Project loan agreement, over questions about its constitutionality.
“On April 3, we will be filing a declaratory relief petition to the Supreme Court, forcing the GRP (Government of the Republic of the Philippines) to rescind (the loan agreement)… (because of a) dangerous provision that will… sell out our national sovereignty,” Anakpawis Rep. Ariel B. Casilao said in a briefing on Thursday.
The petitioners cited Article 8.1 of the Chico River Pump Irrigation Project loan agreement, signed on April 10, 2018, in which the Philippines “irrevocably waives any immunity on the grounds of sovereign or otherwise for itself or its property in connection with any arbitration proceeding.”
Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonio T. Carpio earlier flagged the same provision which he said allows China to seize the country’s “patrimonial assets and assets dedicated to commercial use.”
The 1987 Constitution requires the President to inform Congress of every contract the government enters into relating to foreign-funded exploration, development and utilization of minerals and petroleum, among others, within 30 days from execution.
Mr. Casilao asked the government to publicize all 19 loan agreements signed with China, of which the Makabayan bloc was able to obtain only three. “We call out to the government to disclose publicly all contracts engaged, loans, grants, ODAs (Official Development Assistance).”
“Out of the 19 agreements entered upon by the GRP and private entities of China, hindi lang po limited ‘yan sa Chinese Government, kundi may mga malalaking investors po, tatlo pa lang ang nakuha nating kontrata (not limited to the Chinese government, but even large private investors, we have been able to obtain only three),“ he said.
Mr. Casilao did not disclose details of the two other agreements the bloc was able to obtain.
ACT-Teachers Rep. Antonio L. Tinio said the Chico River Pump Irrigation Project loan agreement follows the template of loan deals China entered into with other nations.
“Basically, (our loan agreement) with China follows the same template of Chinese loans in other countries (that are victims of the) debt trap, including Sri Lanka and Ecuador,” he said in the same briefing. — Charmaine A. Tadalan
