MANILA, Philippines — Some Filipino politicians may have received support from China to amplify its operations in the West Philippine Sea (WPS), Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro said on Tuesday.
During a House committee on appropriations hearing on the proposed budget of the Department of National Defense, Akbayan Party-list Rep. Dadah Ismula asked Teodoro whether the agency had credible information that Philippine elected officials were receiving support from China and publishing pro-China statements backing its operations in the WPS.
“We have some grounds to perhaps suspect it,” Teodoro said.
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However, Teodoro noted that they do not have access to the politicians’ bank accounts, which he said makes it difficult to establish such evidence.
“But credible information in respect to evidence is kind of hard to adduce, particularly as we do not have access to bank deposits,” Teodoro added.
When asked for further details about the speculation, such as the kind of support some politicians may have received, Teodoro said he was not prepared to disclose certain information, “particularly if there are active law enforcement evidence-gathering operations at this stage.”
He said the agency continues to coordinate with law enforcement agencies on the matter.
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He was also asked if he thinks that there are politicians who amplify pro-China trolls, to which he answered: “I think the statements speak for themselves.”
He also pointed to the Chinese Embassy’s website, which he described as “not a diplomatic website” but “already a propaganda institution that enjoys the freedom of speech that we enjoy without extending reciprocal benefits to us in their own home country.” /dl
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