Pnoy contradicts Trillanes on China backchannel

From: gmanews.tv

President Aquino contradicted Sen. Antonio Trillanes when he said it was was China who initiated moves to have the senator work as the Philippines’ backchannel negotiator in the territorial rift involving the Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal.

Trillanes’ had claimed that it was Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. who proposed that he negotiate with Chinese authorities on behalf of the Philippines. He said Ochoa brought up the issue during a social gathering in Malacañang last May.

“Ang tanda ko diyan, kinontak tayo ni Sen. Trillanes at tila nasa China siya at that time, at nilapitan siya, tinanong ‘yung posibilidad kung pupwede siyang maging backchannel [negotiator] nga,” Aquino told reporters in Nueva Ecija.

Aquino said he agreed to Trillanes’ proposal, noting the absence of any other options for backroom negotiations. He said he felt he had nothing left to lose if he gave Trillanes the job.

“So, in the absence of any other channels that were existing beforehand, at sa gusto nating maresolba na mapayapa itong sitwasyon sa Scarborough Shoal so, anong mawawala sa atin pakinggan ’yung ipararating?” he said.

Aquino said Trillanes remains the country’s backroom negotiator with China pending his meeting with the neophyte senator. He said Trillanes, was instrumental in the decrease in the number of Chinese boats near Panatag.
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 The President did not mention other supposed accomplishments by Trillanes, saying enumerating successes gained through informal channels shouldn’t be publicly announced.###