Arya News - The warning came after Defence Secretary Gilberto `Gibo` Teodoro Jr. told lawmakers that some elected officials may be receiving support from China to spread propaganda challenging the country’s claims in the contested waters.
MANILA – Malacañang on Wednesday warned politicians allegedly receiving support from China to push propaganda undermining the Philippines’ claims in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) against selling out the country just to remain in office.
The warning came after Defense Secretary Gilberto “Gibo” Teodoro Jr. told lawmakers that some elected officials may be receiving support from China to spread propaganda challenging the country’s claims in the contested waters.
Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said the identity of any politician allegedly involved should not be disclosed immediately, as the matter requires a more thorough investigation.
But she also gave them a stern admonition: “Hindi po dapat na magpagamit sa ibang bansa para lang manatili sa puwesto. Mahirap po na ang maging lider natin ay hawak ng ibang bansa dahil ibang naratibo at ibang interes ang palalawigin ng mga politiko na hawak ng ibang bansa.”
(Filipino leaders should not allow themselves to be used by another country just to remain in office. It would be difficult if our leaders were controlled by another country because politicians under the influence of a foreign power would advance a different narrative and different interests.)
Castro added that the issue has been observed for quite some time, citing a study by a University of Santo Tomas journalism student on a social media network with Chinese links that allegedly pushes anti-Philippine and pro-Duterte content.
“PressOne.PH, an independent news website has identified an army of Chinese social media accounts disseminating questionable and anti-Philippines content,” she said.
During Tuesday’s hearing, Teodoro told lawmakers that authorities have reason to suspect that certain politicians may be bankrolled by Beijing, although obtaining evidence to substantiate the allegation could be difficult.
“We have some ground to perhaps suspect it, but credible information in respect to evidence is kind of hard to adduce,” Teodoro said, adding that financial agencies are better equipped to investigate such matters.
“We do not have access to bank deposits [and] I think it is best addressed by financial authorities,” he added.
Teodoro is one of China’s fiercest critics in the Marcos Cabinet and earlier called on government officials siding with China to resign. Malacañang supported this call.