Contrary to the claims of some, President Rodrigo Duterte has the authority to enter “executive” agreements, including a verbal deal with China on fishing rights in the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ), according to Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo. Panelo said former Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales and former Foreign Affairs secretary Albert del Rosario were wrong when they said no public official has “the authority to grant foreigners fishing rights.” He added executive agreements are usually “less formal” and deal with a “narrower range of subject matters than treaties.” Philippine jurisprudence or case law has long-recognized that this power may be exercised by the President even without the concurrence of the Congress.

Co, A. S. (2019, July 27). PRRD has authority over verbal fishing deal - Palace. Panay News, pp. 7, 15.