MANILA, April 8 -- Senator Francis Tolentino on Monday said there is not enough basis for the Senate to investigate former president Rodrigo Duterte's alleged "gentleman's agreement" with China, considering that the agreement, even if true, is purely "verbal."

"I don't think there is, with all due respect, a sound basis for that (probe) considering that the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties is very specific - an agreement has to be in writing," Tolentino said.

"Paano mo mara-ratify yung verbal (How would you ratify something that is only verbal)? Unless, you have a transcript submitted by the Department of Foreign Affairs to the Senate na ira-ratify. So, wala (that has to be ratified. So, nothing)," he added.

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