Teodoro: Pro-China PH officials may be receiving support from Beijing

National

SOME Philippine politicians may be getting support from Beijing to echo China’s narrative on the contested South China Sea, Defense Secretary Gilberto “Gibo” Teodoro Jr. said Tuesday.

Teodoro said authorities have reason to suspect that certain elected officials could be receiving backing from China, although obtaining credible evidence to establish such support could prove difficult.

“We have some ground to perhaps suspect it, but credible information in respect to evidence is kind of hard to adduce,” Teodoro said during a congressional budget briefing, as quoted by the Inquirer.net.

He said financial authorities would be better positioned to determine whether politicians were receiving financial support from Beijing, noting that the Defense Department does not have access to bank deposits.

Teodoro made the remarks in response to a question from Akbayan Rep. Dadah Kiram Ismula about what type of support some officials could be receiving.

The defense chief declined to provide details, saying he did not want to speculate while authorities could be conducting an active law enforcement evidence-gathering operation.

Teodoro, one of the Cabinet’s most outspoken critics of China, has repeatedly challenged Beijing’s expansive claims in the South China Sea, which overlap with Manila’s claims in the West Philippine Sea.

He previously called on Philippine officials who side with Beijing to resign, drawing a rebuke from Davao City Rep. Paolo “Pulong” Duterte, who accused the defense chief of vilifying China.

Duterte, the brother of Vice President Sara Duterte, is the son of former President Rodrigo Duterte, whose administration pursued closer relations with Beijing while maintaining ties with the Philippines’ traditional Western allies, including the United States.

Teodoro also maintained that some pro-China politicians are echoing Beijing’s positions, saying their public statements provide the basis for that assessment.(MyTVCebu)