GMA: No promise made to remove Sierra Madre

MANILA, Philippines — It’s now former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s turn to deny making a promise to China to remove the BRP Sierra Madre from Ayungin Shoal, where it has been grounded and serving as military outpost since 1999.

“I have been asked to comment on claims that the Philippine government had promised China to remove BRP Sierra Madre from Ayungin Shoal. I will categorically state three facts,” Arroyo said.

First, Arroyo said, she “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. Third, I only became aware of such claims recently when the matter surfaced in public discussions,” she added.

“Beyond this, I will not make any further comment, in order to allow our foreign affairs officials to deal with it with a minimum of distraction,” she maintained.

Earlier, Senators Jinggoy Estrada and JV Ejercito denied that it was their father, former president Joseph Estrada, who made a promise to tow the derelict World War II era vessel from the Ayungin Shoal.

Beijing earlier accused the Philippines of reneging on its supposed promise to remove the Sierra Madre from Ayungin Shoal.

Beijing did not say who made the promise or provided any proof of such a promise.