Medialdea discloses alleged ‘agreement’ between Chinese Embassy and ex-Defense chief Gazmin in 2013

May 21, 2024 , 04:05 PM

By Lace Anne Ebuña

(May 21, 2024 ) – Former Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea on Tuesday admitted that the Duterte administration did not undertake repairs on the BRP Sierra Madre, solely dispatching supplies to troops stationed at Ayungin Shoal, in accordance with a commitment made during the Aquino administration.

Medialdea disclosed a commitment by Voltaire Gazmin, former Defense secretary during the Aquino administration, where he promised the Chinese embassy to only deliver food and water to marines assigned to the vessel.

This revelation stunned lawmakers, especially considering the Philippines’ victory in the UN arbitral tribunal case in 2016.

“We understand the position we have determined already. corroborated na walang gentleman’s agreement, but there was a policy not to repair the Sierra madre. That is quite a revelation for us,” said Rep. Rodge Gutierrez.

Medialdea emphasized that the policy was entered during the Aquino administration, not Duterte’s term. Despite this, the Duterte administration continued to maintain the status quo.

“May continuation ng resupply mission, we have to follow that and for us to move on, we just assumed office 12 days earlier- tingnan natin anong makakabuti sa paglabas ng decision. Remember we haven’t received a copy of the decision at that time, it come out 2 weeks after,” he explained.

Moreover, Medialdea clarified that there was no commitment to repair BRP Sierra Madre. “Wala po. There was no repair whatsoever, what was agreed upon, what was committed by the former defense secretary, he will only deliver food and water. That was the status during that time,” he said.

Former Defense secretary Delfin Lorenzana added that the existence of the agreement made by Gazmin was not transmitted to him when he was briefing him about the job before assuming the office.

However, Lorenzana stated that the claim of not undertaking any repairs on BRP is inaccurate. He explained that in 2021, despite objections from Ambassador Huang, the Philippine Navy proceeded to repair the living and sleeping areas of the detachment stationed there. He further mentioned that these repair activities continued without interruption until his departure in 2022.

(PB)

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