Marcos: No agreement to remove BRP Sierra Madre from Ayungin Shoal

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. on Wednesday denied that the Philippine government had promised China to remove BRP Sierra Madre from Ayungin Shoal.

“I’m not aware of any such arrangement or agreement that the Philippines will remove from its own territory its ship, in this case, the BRP Sierra Madre from the Ayungin Shoal,” Marcos said in a video message.

The President strongly said that he is rescinding any commitment should there really be an existing agreement between the two countries on the removal of the vessel.

"And let me go further, if there does exist such an agreement, I rescind that agreement now,” Marcos said. 

China earlier claimed that the Philippine government had promised to remove the vessel in the Ayungin Shoal, which Beijing calls as Ren’ai Jiao.

The BRP Sierra Madre has been at the Ayungin Shoal since 1999. The ship, manned by more than a dozen Marines and sailors, has become a symbol of Philippine sovereignty in the offshore territory.

The Department of Foreign Affairs also said that the BRP Sierra Madre was a permanent military station tasked to "protect and secure Philippine rights and interests in the West Philippine Sea."

Over the weekend, the Philippine Coast Guard said that the China Coast Guard made dangerous maneuvers and used water cannons against Philippine vessels resupplying food, water, fuel, and other supplies to military troops stationed on the BRP Sierra Madre.

A note verbale was already sent to China following the incident, according to President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.

The President also said that the Philippine government will continue to assert its territorial rights in the West Philippine Sea.—LDF, GMA Integrated News