Senators JV Ejercito, Jinggoy Estrada defend father from allegations that former President Joseph Estrada promised the removal of BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal
Category
🗞
NewsTranscript
00:00 China's accusation of the Philippine government cutting a deal with the Beijing to remove
00:05 the rusting BRP Sierra Madre that ran aground in 1999 in Ayunan show remains a mystery.
00:11 This as sons of former President Joseph Estrada and senators of the 19th Congress, bellied
00:16 a newspaper article blaming the former president for this agreement Beijing alleges has shown
00:22 no proof as of yet.
00:24 Senator Jingo Estrada confirmed the assurance of then-Defense Minister Orly Mercado of no
00:29 such pact, written or verbal, between the President Estrada and Chinese officials.
00:35 Even more, the senator cites that the president's remark last week dissolving speculations of
00:40 any pact if found or confirmed moving forward and urged for people to step forward and name
00:46 drop.
00:47 Meanwhile, half-brother and Senator JB Ejercito pushed back on the allegations and insisted
00:53 his father and then-president pushed for the intentional grounding of the BRP Sierra Madre
00:59 to get in the way of any foreign takeover of the country's maritime territory.