Roque and Duterte were heavily criticized on social media after the former spokesperson first claimed that the “gentleman’s agreement” covered Ayungin Shoal.

Duterte’s former presidential adviser Salvador Panelo belied the statement made by his colleague in the Duterte Cabinet, saying that the former president never entered any gentleman’s agreement with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Interviewed on SMNI on Monday (April 1), Panelo disclosed that he sought a clarification from Duterte during the Holy Week, with the former president vehemently denying making any agreement with China.

“I have tried to avoid that Ayungin Shoal like a hot potato because I know it’s a very hot topic, so I never made any agreement with anyone,” Panelo quoted Duterte.

Panelo chided the person who had been peddling the alleged lies as somebody who merely wants “publicity for himself.”

Interviewed in another TV station, Roque said Panelo was correct in some points he raised.

However, Roque insisted that Duterte had indeed made an agreement with China and this is maintaining a “status quo” in the West Philippine sea.

“There is no specific agreement on Ayungin. The gentleman’s agreement is to respect the status quo on the entire West Philippine sea dispute. That is correct and I do not deny that,” Roque said on air.

He pointed out that there has been no sell out of the country, stressing that Duterte never ordered the removal of the BRP Sierra Madre nor did the country lose any territory.

“The agreement is on how to manage the entire dispute in the West Philippine Sea and not specifically on Ayungin,” Roque stressed.