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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Makabayan wants to get to the bottom of PH 'promise' to tow BRP Sierra Madre from Ayungin

Makabayan wants to get to the bottom of PH 'promise' to tow BRP Sierra Madre from Ayungin

Published Aug 21, 2023 02:10 am

At A Glance

  • The Makabayan bloc in the House of Representatives is mulling an inquiry on the alleged Philippine officials who had promised to China the removal of BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal. 

IMG_20230815_142245.jpg

ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. France Castro (Screenshot from YouTube live)

 

 

 

 

 

The Makabayan bloc in the House of Representatives is mulling an inquiry on the alleged Philippine officials who had promised to China the removal of BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal. 

Thus, said House Deputy Minority Leader and ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. France Castro, as she noted that two past Philippine presidents have already categorically denied making such a promise to Beijing. 

Though a House resolution, Castro said Makabayan also wants to find out "if China is just making this up". 

She said the House probe will be carried out "in aid of legislation". 

Castro noted that former presidents Joseph Estrada and Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo have categorically said that they didn't promise regional power China that they would remove BRP Sierra Madre, which serves as the Philippines' outpost in Ayungin shoal. 

Incumbent President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. has also disowned such a move, she said. 

On the other hand, the late former president Benigno S. Aquino III was the one who pursued the case against China's expansive claims in South China Sea before the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) in The Hague, Netherlands. Manila won the arbitration case. 

In 1999, the Philippine government deliberately ran aground BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal in Spratly Islands to serve as the country’s outpost in the disputed territory.  

The shoal sits 105 nautical miles west of Palawan, Philippines. Thus, it is located in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the Philippines.  

Last Aug. 5, two Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) vessels on a resupply mission to BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin were blasted with water cannons by the China Coast Guard.  

The incident has been condemned by the international community.  

 

Related Tags

act teachers party-list BRP Sierra Madre FRANCE CASTRO Ayungin Shoal
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