Former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, currently representing Pampanga in Congress, on Saturday broke her silence on the issue of the BRP Sierra Madre, saying she never promised China she would have the ship removed from the Ayungin Shoal during her tenure.
“I have been asked to comment on claims that the Philippine government had promised China to remove BRP Sierra Madre from Ayungin Shoal…. I never made such a promise to China or any other country. Second, I never authorized any of my government officials to make such a promise,” said Arroyo in a statement.
This came days after her former spokesperson, Rigoberto Tiglao, stood by his claim that it was former President Joseph Estrada who promised China the Sierra Madre would be removed from Ayungin.
Arroyo said she was unaware of any talks about the Sierra Madre. “I only became aware of such claims recently when the matter surfaced in public discussions,” she added.