DFA must summon Chinese envoy for insisting on Ayungin pact – Rodriguez

Cagayan de Oro Second District Representative Rufus Rodriguez. (INQUIRER file photo)

MANILA, Philippines — The Chinese diplomat who is insisting on the existence of an agreement to remove the beached BRP Sierra Madre from Ayungin Shoal should be summoned by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).

This is the suggestion of Cagayan de Oro 2nd District Representative Rufus Rodriguez.

Rodriguez believes Chinese embassy deputy chief of mission Zhou Zhiyong disrespected President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. by continuously talking about the supposed accord.

The Chief Executive had already contradicted this claim, saying there is no such deal.

“(The DFA should summon him) to impress upon him the President’s firm statement that no such promise has been made and that the Philippines does not intend to remove BRP Sierra Madre from Ayungin as symbol of our country’s sovereign rights over that area,” Rodriguez said in a statement on Wednesday.

“His insistence amounted to disrespect and an insult because President Marcos had declared days earlier that he had made no such promise and that he was scrapping any such commitment, if one was made by any of his predecessors,” the lawmaker went on.

“Mr. Zhou and his government should have just accepted the President’s declaration,” he added.

Last August 8, China’s Foreign Ministry claimed Philippines had previously promised to remove BRP Sierra Madre several times, but failed to act on it.

However, officials from National Security Council however said they have no idea about the supposed deal.

Zhou recalled it has been 24 years since Philippines vowed to tow away BRP Sierra Madre.

In response, Marcos clarified that he had not made any pact.

And even if such an agreement existed in the past, the President declared that it has been rescinded.

Rodriguez’s suggestion comes after the House committee on appropriations heard the proposed budget of DFA.

During the budget hearing, Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo was asked about the country’s response to foreign intrusions on Philippine territory.

Manalo responded, saying the country has crafted 447 diplomatic protests since 2020.

He said the bulk of these protests was sent to China.

RELATED STORIES:

China claims PH has yet to remove BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal as promised 

Bongbong Marcos rescinds deal with China to withdraw BRP Sierra Madre: If it does exist  

Palace doubles down: No promise to China to remove BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin 

Pact on Ayungin rescinded, if there’s any – Marcos

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