Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada on Thursday, March 28 rejected former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque’s accusation that the alleged deal concerning the BRP Sierra Madre between the government of the Philippines and China happened during the time of former president Joseph Estrada.

Roque, who previously served during the Duterte administration, had disclosed of a “gentleman’s agreement” reached during former president Duterte’s leadership and then Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano.

He later mentioned that China was attributing the existence of the agreement to the former Estrada administration.

In a statement, Estrada criticized Roque, who served during the Duterte administration, for making “baseless claims” when he is not privy to such communication.

“Minsan ko nang pinanindigan sa isang privilege speech na walang kasunduan o pangakong binitawan ang aking ama, ang dating President Joseph Estrada, sa pagtanggal ng BRP Sierra Madre sa Ayungin Shoal at ito’y pinatotohanan pa ng mga noo’y defense and security officials gaya ni dating Defense Sec. Orlando Mercado (I once affirmed in a privilege speech that there was no agreement or promise to release my father, former President Joseph Estrada, in the removal of the BRP Sierra Madre from Ayungin Shoal and this was further confirmed by the then defense and security officials such as by former Defense Sec. Orlando Mercado),” Estrada said.

“It’s disappointing, to say the least, and utterly unacceptable for former presidential spokesman Harry Roque to make such baseless claims when he’s not even privy to such information,” the senator stressed.

Estrada further slammed Roque, saying such statements released—amid the worsening pressures and bullying we are experiencing in China—only spread confusion and doubts about the Philippine government’s integrity and ability to fight for its own national security.

“As I pointed out in my privilege speech last August (2023), how is it possible that there was a period of relative ‘peace’ in the West Philippine Sea during the nine-year Arroyo administration? The administration that succeeded my father was conspicuously ‘silent’ and did not take any steps to claim our territorial rights concerning the West Philippine Sea,” he pointed out.

Nevertheless, Estrada said he finds it praiseworthy that the Marcos administration is taking concrete actions to protect the country’s sovereign rights and territorial integrity despite all these pronouncements.

“Any efforts made to address this ongoing and escalating aggression by China should be supported and encouraged,” he said.

“We must remain firm and united in defending our sovereignty, and in safeguarding our maritime territories for the benefit of present and future generations,” he emphasized.