Former President and current representative, Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, finds herself entangled in a web of accusations stemming from her past dealings with China. A specter from two decades ago has come back to haunt her, raising questions about her role in a diplomatic promise that may have never existed.

The controversy revolves around the grounding of two aging warships, the BRP Sierra Madre and BRP Benguet, in the hotly disputed West Philippine Sea in 1999. The goal at the time was to thwart what the Philippines saw as China’s “creeping invasion” of its territorial waters. These events, buried in the annals of history, have resurfaced in recent weeks, driven by a troubling incident on August 5, 2023, when Chinese actions, including the firing of water cannons, forced a Philippine resupply mission to turn back.

Unsurprisingly, the Philippines, joined by several Western nations, including the United States, condemned China’s actions as “dangerous.” However, what has added fuel to the fire is China’s claim that the Philippines failed to honor a commitment to remove the BRP Sierra Madre from Second Thomas Shoal, also known as Ayungin Shoal.

As the accusations flew, Arroyo’s longtime ally and former spokesperson, Rigoberto Tiglao, emerged to defend her against the allegations and to redirect blame towards Joseph Estrada, who was in power during the 1999 grounding.

However, Estrada’s defence secretary Orly Mercado, in an interview with Karen Davila on ANC, belied Tiglao’s claim, saying, “My position was very clear from the very beginning. Huwag tayong bibigay diyan,” referring to China’s creeping invasion.

Adding to the intrigue, during Estrada’s presidency, the BRP Benguet was successfully removed, further complicating the matter. The crux of the debate hinges on whether there was ever a commitment, either in 1999 or afterward, by the Philippines, led at the time by President Joseph Estrada, to abandon the shoal.

Estrada’s silence on the issue has been deafening, but his son Jinggoy, the Senate defense committee chair, recently released a statement reiterating Mercado’s position: there was “no agreement or promise” to remove the vessel.

It is widely accepted that the Philippines intentionally grounded the two ships to assert sovereignty over Second Thomas Shoal and Scarborough Shoal, both located within its exclusive economic zone (EEZ). Notably, the BRP Benguet was promptly towed away after its grounding in November 1999.

In response to the allegations, Arroyo issued a resolute statement, declaring, “I will categorically state three facts. First, I never made such a promise to China or any other country. Second, I never authorized any of my government officials to make such a promise.”

She further emphasized that she only became aware of Beijing’s claim “when the matter surfaced in public discussions.” Her concluding words were clear: “Beyond this, I will not make any further comment, in order to allow our foreign affairs officials to deal with it with a minimum of distraction.” Arroyo, now serving as House deputy speaker, is standing her ground.

Estrada’s sons, Senators Jinggoy Estrada and JV Ejercito, have echoed their father’s denial, asserting that he never made such a promise.

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has also weighed in, stating that he is unaware of any such agreement but, if it exists, he intends to rescind it.

Even the National Security Council (NSC) has dismissed the claims, considering them insignificant in the broader context of international relations.

However, this resurgence of Beijing’s claim has also dredged up Arroyo’s past controversies involving China, particularly the infamous $329-million NBN-ZTE deal that implicated her and her family.

On September 22, 2007, President Arroyo suspended the broadband contract with ZTE, responding to a bribery scandal that had created significant turmoil in her government.