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22 Mayo 2024, Miyerkules

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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.