Año urges Filipinos: Push back vs narratives undermining nat’l interest

MANILA, Philippines — National Security Adviser Eduardo Año urged Filipinos on Saturday to stand against any narratives that are contrary to the national interest, especially on the topic of the West Philippine Sea.

“We call on all Filipinos to stand their ground and push back against these malign and corrosive narratives that seek to undermine the national interest,” Año said in a statement.

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“We should not fall into a trap which clearly seeks to sow division in our country and weaken our resolve in asserting our sovereignty, sovereign rights, and jurisdiction in the West Philippine Sea,” he added.

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Año issued the statement following the recent discourse of an alleged “gentleman’s agreement” between former President Rodrigo Duterte and Chinese President Xi Jinping concerning the conduct of the two countries in the West Philippine Sea.

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. said that he was not aware of any such agreement and that if it existed, he declared that he was rescinding it.

Meanwhile, Año said that the agreement, if true, is “inimical to national interest and the Constitution,” and that those responsible for the agreement should explain it to Filipinos.

“Moreover, any such agreement, if proven to be true, are inimical to the national interest and the Constitution. If there is any such agreement, it is the responsibility of those responsible for it to explain it before the Filipino people but it is not and will never be binding upon this administration,” Año added.

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