MANILA — Experts and lawmakers have cautioned the Philippine government against pursuing joint oil and gas exploration with China in the West Philippine Sea (WPS), citing constitutional, security, and economic concerns.

At a press conference, Rafaela David said any negotiations with China should not proceed unless key conditions are met.

“Any future oil talks with China are unacceptable unless it fully recognizes the Philippines’ 2016 arbitral ruling victory, withdraws from the WPS, ends their illegal occupation and militarization, and stops harassing Filipino fishers and frontliners,” David said.

“Any talks of joint oil and gas exploration with China is not a solution. It is submission,” she added.

The group warned that entering into such agreements could embolden China’s actions in the region and increase the Philippines’ economic dependence, potentially weakening energy security.

Retired Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio underscored that the 1987 Constitution reserves marine resources for Filipinos and raised concerns over China’s concept of “joint development.”

“Joint development means China owns the oil and gas and out of the goodness of its heart, it will allow us to participate,” Carpio said.

“We should use the term joint cooperation because under that term the oil and gas belong to the Philippines and we just invite other foreign companies and states to help us develop oil and gas,” it added.

Carpio emphasized that any agreement must ensure that oil and gas resources remain under Philippine ownership and that contracts are governed by Philippine law.

Meanwhile, Akbayan Party-list Rep. Chel Diokno called for transparency and congressional oversight in any potential negotiations, warning against undisclosed arrangements.

“Hindi pwedeng idaan sa secret o backroom deals ang kinabukasan ng ating bansa. Any agreement forged without transparency raises serious red flags,” Diokno said.

(The future of our country cannot be determined by secret or backroom deals.)

“We will ask the House special committee on the WPS together with other relevant committees to exercise oversight and look into these oil talks to ensure transparency, accountability, and adherence to the Constitution,” he added.

He said such oversight is necessary to ensure that government officials act within legal bounds and uphold national interest.

Earlier, Malacañang assured that any potential joint exploration would safeguard the country’s interests amid ongoing energy challenges.

Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro said the administration would not compromise the Philippines’ rights in any agreement with China.

“Lagi naman, kung ano ang nararapat sa atin at kung anong karapatan natin, ‘yan naman ang ipinaglalaban ng Pangulo at ng administrayon na ito (Whatever is rightfully ours and whatever our rights are, that’s what the President and this administration are pushing for),” Castro said in an interview.

“So, walang mawawala. Walang mawawalang interes, walang ipamimigay na interes. Basta tayo laging sincere, walang secret deal (So, nothing will be lost. No interest will be lost, and no interest will be surrendered and we remain sincere, there are no secret deals),” she added.