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Noynoy admin approved Ayungin status quo
By Redentor Oro
“Status quo on Ayungin Shoal where BRP Sierra Madre dilapidated warship served as Philippine military outpost in low elevation reef since 1999 was in 2013 commitment of former defense secretary Gazmin to Chinese ambassador Ma Keqing he would only deliver food and water to Marines stationed at the vessel,” former executive secretary Salvador Medialdea said second Aquino administration that first made commitment in 2013 not to have BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal repaired.
At joint hearing of House committees on national defense and security and West Philippine Sea, Medialdea said keeping status quo on Sierra Madre was commitment made by then defense chief Voltaire Gazmin to then Chinese ambassador Ma Keqing.
Medialdea said commitment was to limit resupply missions to delivery of food, water and other provisions to troops stationed on Sierra Madre, rusty World War II-era transport ship deliberately beached on shoal to serve as military outpost.
Delivery of construction materials was explicitly not allowed.
House committees were investigating supposed “gentleman’s agreement” between former president Rodrigo Duterte and Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Upon questioning by 1Rider partylist Rep. Rodge Rodrigo, Medialdea stressed such agreement between two leaders does not exist. “There was none.”
ACT-CIS partylist Rep. France Castro moved to invite Gazmin to shed light on matter. There was no objection to her motion.
According to Medialdea, he got information regarding Gazmin’s deal with Chinese ambassador when he asked around concerning favorable ruling of Permanent Court of Arbitration on arbitral case filed against China by Aquino administration.
Court decision came out on July 12, 2016 or 12 days after Duterte took office.
He said that while commitment was made during Aquino administration, succeeding leadership opted to keep it, out of respect.
“I cannot elaborate with particularity on status…that was what I gathered when decision came out 12 days after we assumed office,” he maintained, referring to arbitral ruling.
He said then president Duterte was only “of position that we respect” commitment.
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