MANILA, March 27 -- National Security Council (NSC) Assistant Director General Jonathan Malaya said on Wednesday they were unaware of any "gentleman's agreement" that the Philippines entered with China during the past administration regarding the West Philippine Sea (WPS).

"We are not aware of any 'gentleman's agreement' between China and the Philippines referred to by former secretary Harry Roque. The good former secretary should be one to explain to the public his statements since such an agreement, if it exists, infringes and violates our sovereignty as a nation," Malaya said in a statement forwarded to reporters.

Malaya, also National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea (NTF-WPS) spokesperson, was referring to Roque's claims that...