She now insists the Philippine government committed to remove the rusting hulk of the BRP Sierra Madre from Ayungin Shoal. No document could be produced showing the Philippines promised to remove the BRP Sierra Madre – which will likely remain grounded until rusting causes it to crumble. But the BRP Sierra Madre, no matter its lack of seaworthiness, is an asset of the Philippine Navy. When the convoy materialized, the Chinese ships maneuvered to throw them off course and bombarded the resupply vessels with water. We will not pull out the Sierra Madre.
