Former President and now Deputy Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on Saturday broke her silence on the issue regarding the BRP Sierra Madre, which China claimed was promised by the Philippines to be removed from the Ayungin Shoal.
"I have been asked to comment on claims that the Philippine government had promised China to remove BRP Sierra Madre from Ayungin Shoa.... I never made such a promise to China or any other country. Second, I never authorized any of my government officials to make such a promise," said Arroyo in a statement. that it was former President Joseph Estrada who promised China that the BRP Sierra Madre will be removed from the Ayungin Shoal.
The former President further noted that she would not make any further comment to allow the foreign affairs officials to deal with the issue "with a minimum of distraction". Tiglao has claimed that the commitment with China was made during the Estrada Administration in 1999, the same year the rusting Navy ship was installed at the shoal.Estrada's camp denied this claim, as his son, Senator Jinggoy Estrada, said it would have beenThe younger Estrada also said former senator Orly Mercado "confirmed that there wasMercado, who served as Estrada's defense secretary, earlier stated that the Estrada administration made no such promise.
President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. also said he is not aware of any such agreement but that if one exists, he is now
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