Philippines Defense Chief Accuses Officials of Taking Chinese Funds for Influence Operations

Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. stated there is "sufficient reason to suspect" that some elected officials are accepting Chinese funds to promote Beijing's narrative on the West Philippine Sea. He also directly criticized the Chinese Embassy in Manila, accusing it of overstepping its diplomatic role and functioning as a "propaganda machine."

Teodoro made these remarks during a budget hearing at the House of Representatives, responding to a question about credible intelligence suggesting officials are aiding China's expansionist and influence operations. While acknowledging the difficulty in obtaining concrete evidence, particularly regarding financial transactions, he suggested that financial regulators should handle such investigations, potentially using tax fraud cases to trace illicit financial activities.

The Defense Department, he assured, would share intelligence with law enforcement agencies but would refrain from making unverified public statements. Teodoro confirmed his belief that some officials are amplifying pro-China social media messages, stating their public statements speak for themselves.

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We may have reason to suspect, but it is difficult to provide intelligence with concrete evidence, especially since we cannot check bank deposits.

Furthermore, Teodoro revealed tactics employed by China to solicit sensitive information from defense and military personnel. This includes offering payment for reports on specific topics through "think tank" emails, with some individuals only realizing the suspicious nature of the requests when asked for more detailed or sensitive information. The department is particularly vigilant about targeting contract or task-force personnel who may be more susceptible due to lower salaries compared to civil service employees.

The proposed budget for the Department of National Defense and its attached agencies for 2027 is 324.6 billion pesos, an increase of about 10% from the current year. Funds are allocated for the Army, Air Force, and Navy, with specific mention of defense operations in the West Philippine Sea, including Scarborough Shoal, being covered within the regular operational budget.

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I believe there are indeed some, this is undeniable, their public statements speak for themselves.