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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider DFA has no record of vessel removal promise — Carpio

DFA has no record of vessel removal promise — Carpio

Published Aug 15, 2023 06:20 am

At A Glance

  • The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) does not have any record of a Philippine official promising China of BRP Sierra Madre removal from the Ayungin Shoal, retired associate justice Antonio Carpio said Tuesday, August 15.

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) does not have any record of a Philippine official promising China of BRP Sierra Madre removal from the Ayungin Shoal, retired associate justice Antonio Carpio said Tuesday, August 15.

"I am told by Ambassador Henry Bensurto that they combed the records of the DFA, they could not find any record of that promise by any Philippine government official," Carpio said in an interview with ANC.

"So you cannot say that we acknowledge that there was such a promise. There was no promise because there is no proof that any government official made a promise," he added.

Manila Bulletin reached out to Bensurto for validation of information. He has yet to respond.

Carpio's remark came in response to Beijing's persistent claim that the Philippines committed to tow away BRP Sierra Madre from the Ayungin Shoal.

On Monday, Chinese Embassy in Manila's Deputy Chief of Mission, Zhou Zhiyong, said the Philippines "made an explicit commitment" to tow the navy ship after China lodged "solemn representations."

Zhou said it was "put on record and well-documented," but Beijing has not until now provided proof of such an agreement.

Carpio, a staunch advocate of the country's fight for the West Philippine Sea, also refuted columnist Rigoberto Tiglao's piece that claimed it was former president Joseph Estrada who made the promise but only verbally.

Tiglao also attached in his column a supposed confidential memorandum from the DFA sent to Malacañang, which implied that the Philippines was aware of the promise.

"There is nothing in that memo that says that the Philippines or any government official made that promise. What [former Foreign Affairs secretary Albert] Del Rosario said the Chinese are claiming the Philippines or some government officials made a promise without stating who these people are," Carpio said.

"But in that memo, Del Rosario never said that promise was indeed given by any government official. Del Rosario merely said that this is the claim of China, without saying that that's correct or not. He just mentioned that this is the claim of China," he added.

Related Tags

BRP Sierra Madre Antonio Carpio Ayungin Shoal
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