Sen JV Ejercito | PHOTO: Ejercito’s office
MANILA, Philippines — Senator JV Ejercito defended his father, former President Joseph Estrada, from allegations he was the one who promised to remove the BRP Sierra Madre from Ayungin Shoal.
Ejercito said it would be impossible for his father to commit to towing BRP Sierra Madre away since he was the one who ordered the Philippine ship to be anchored in Ayungin Shoal.
“That claim seems inconsistent. The mere fact President Estrada was the one who ordered the BRP Sierra Madre be grounded in Ayungin Shoal, it’s impossible he will commit to remove the same!” the senator said in a Viber message to reporters.
He made the remark when he sought comment on a column claiming that his father committed to remove the ship.
Ejercito also hit back at the columnist, Rigoberto Tiglao, saying they supported the “first salvo of Chinese intrusion” through the botched National Broadband Network deal with the Chinese company ZTE Corp.
Tiglao was the spokesman of then-president and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, who was catapulted into power after Estrada’s ouster from office in 2001.
“Sino ba ang malapit sa Tsina? Si Erap ba? [Who was closer to China? Was is Erap?] VFA was in fact approved also during his time,” Ejercito said, referring to the Visiting Force Agreement between the Philippines and the United States.
“…At least whatever they say about President Estrada, he had the balls to fight for our sovereignty and our territorial integrity. Kahit paano meron siyang balls to claim our territory against the superpower,” the senator added in a separate interview in the Senate.
China claimed the Philippines “promised several times” to tow away the ship but has yet to act on it.
However, several government officials disputed this, including President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. himself.