Office of VP Robredo issues statement on Chinese President Xi Jinping state visit

Speaking in front of graduate students and professors in Ateneo, VP Leni talked about Tsinelas Leadership, the brand of service of her husband, the late DILG Secretary Jesse Robredo. Tsinelas Leadership, she said, is what’s needed from our leaders today—leaders with empathy and leaders who evoke hope to our people. VP Leni was awarded the Metrobank Foundation Professorial Chair for Public Service and Governance by the Ateneo de Manila University. Text and Photo from facebook page of vice President Leni Robredo.
File photo: Speaking in front of graduate students and professors in Ateneo, VP Leni talked about Tsinelas Leadership, the brand of service of her husband, the late DILG Secretary Jesse Robredo. Tsinelas Leadership, she said, is what’s needed from our leaders today—leaders with empathy and leaders who evoke hope to our people. VP Leni was awarded the Metrobank Foundation Professorial Chair for Public Service and Governance by the Ateneo de Manila University. Text and Photo from facebook page of vice President Leni Robredo.

On November 21st, 2018, the Office of the Vice President issued a statement which addresses concern on the issues hounding the 2-day state visit  of Chinese President Xi Jinping  upon the invitation of President Duterte.

Read the full statement below:

“We call on the administration to be transparent with all the bilateral agreements signed yesterday with the People’s Republic of China. The Filipino people should be informed how deals—such as the Memorandum of Understanding on the Belt and Road Initiative, the Infrastructure Cooperation Program, and, most notably, the Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation on Oil and Gas Development—will benefit our country and serve our national interest. These documents signed during the State Visit of President Xi Jinping will affect the everyday lives of each Filipino, not only under this administration, but for years to come. It is the duty of the administration to inform the public what the nation stands to gain from such agreements.”

“Other than transparency on the bilateral agreements, we urge the administration to stand firm and exert all diplomatic means to assert our sovereignty over the West Philippine Sea, consistent with the our historic victory before the arbitral tribunal more than two years ago. Our sovereignty must not be compromised in any agreement we enter into with any country.”

“We welcome the friendship of the People’s Republic of China. But this friendship should not come at the expense of the interests of our people and our nation. Our interests should always come first when we deepen relations with other nations, especially at a time when majority of our people continue to contend with daily challenges brought about by elevated prices and lack of livelihood opportunities.”

We call on the administration to be transparent with all the bilateral agreements signed yesterday with the People’s Republic of China. The Filipino people should be informed how deals—such as the Memorandum of Understanding on the Belt and Road Initiative, the Infrastructure Cooperation Program, and, most notably, the Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation on Oil and Gas Development—will benefit our country and serve our national interest. These documents signed during the State Visit of President Xi Jinping will affect the everyday lives of each Filipino, not only under this administration, but for years to come. It is the duty of the administration to inform the public what the nation stands to gain from such agreements.


Other than transparency on the bilateral agreements, we urge the administration to stand firm and exert all diplomatic means to assert our sovereignty over the West Philippine Sea, consistent with the our historic victory before the arbitral tribunal more than two years ago. Our sovereignty must not be compromised in any agreement we enter into with any country.


We welcome the friendship of the People’s Republic of China. But this friendship should not come at the expense of the interests of our people and our nation. Our interests should always come first when we deepen relations with other nations, especially at a time when majority of our people continue to contend with daily challenges brought about by elevated prices and lack of livelihood opportunities.

Official Statement of Vice President Leni Robredo calling on the administration to be transparent and uphold national interest in agreements with China

The statement reconnects issues which has major implication on national sovereignty, the Philippine claim of islands, islets shoals, and waters about the West Philippine sea, among others.

Sr. Editorial Staff Nation News
Latest posts by Sr. Editorial Staff Nation News (see all)

Tell us your thoughts on this article. If logged in with any of your Wordpress.com, Twitter, Facebook, Google+, or registered on this site before, then you can simply write your comment below. Thanks and appreciate your feedback.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.