The Department of National Defense (DND) on Friday night firmly stood by Defense Secretary Gilberto “Gibo” Teodoro Jr. after the Chinese Embassy in Manila branded him “arrogant” and “ignorant of history” over his alleged "anti-China" remarks.
Earlier, Teodoro pointed out that China is gradually losing credibility and trust within the international community because of its activities, particularly in disputed waters.
In a statement, DND spokesperson Assistant Secretary Arsenio “Popong” Andolong dismissed the accusations and stressed that Teodoro "views the world with open eyes and is blessed to be in a country which cherishes freedom of speech, thought, and expression."
“The Secretary echoes the view of a vast majority of the Filipino people and the rest of the free world that China’s narratives are the product of an opaque, unaccountable, and autocratic system, which deprives its citizens and other areas that they have forcibly occupied of liberties and human rights, distorts international law, and paints peace-loving Countries as supposed aggressors,” Andolong said.
The spokesperson also accused Beijing of twisting historical narratives and spreading false information to justify its claims in the disputed waters.
He warned that China’s “selective and contrived use of history” not only undermines global trust but also threatens smaller nations.
“One need not delve any further to see that their goodwill is at a deficit. Their actions do not mirror their words,” Andolong asserted.
The defense official also took aim at Beijing’s human rights record, citing the plight of Uyghurs and other ethnic minorities in Xinjiang.
He pointed to cases of forced labor, mass detention, and suppression of religious and cultural freedoms as evidence of China’s repressive regime.
“I thank God for being able to live in a country that allows me not only to have open eyes but a mouth which is free to speak the truth and will not land me in a prison or consign me to a forced labor camp like the Uighurs and other unfortunate victims of a repressive regime,” Andolong said.
The DND reiterated that the Philippines desires peace based on rules, transparency, and fairness, and not transactional arrangements driven by power politics.
