Lawmakers are seeing backdoor negotiations as among the “effective” peaceful strategies that could be employed to help resolve the long-standing dispute between Manila and Beijing over the West Philippine Sea.

Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr., Deputy Speaker and Isabela Rep. Giorgidi Aggabao and AKO Bicol party-list Rep. Rodel Batocabe said “behind-the-scenes negotiations” could ease the tension between the countries.

Belmonte expressed his support to the back channeling idea provided that it would involve government representatives who have a deep grasp of the issues involved.

“I believe back channeling through authorized representatives, rather than ‘friends’ would be helpful,” he said after former Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Secretary General Rodolfo Severino expressed belief that both countries are trying to salvage their ties through backdoor negotiations.

“Engagement, whether official or sub rosa, is always a better option than confrontation. The backdoor negotiation, if true, should be encouraged,” Aggabao, for his part, said.

Read more: http://www.mb.com.ph/solons-support-backdoor-talks-to-help-resolve-ph-china-row/