Teodoro: Pro-China tag rests on refusal to recognize West Philippines Sea
MANILA, Philippines — Defense Secretary Gibo Teodoro said individuals who refuse to recognize the Aquino-era order naming the West Philippine Sea meet the defense department's standard for being pro-China.
The statement on Friday, August 7, was Teodoro's answer to Vice President Sara Duterte, who had challenged him the day before to name the officials he wants out of government for aligning with Beijing.
"The DND works on objective criteria and no other standard in cases involving the reputation of our citizens," Teodoro said in the statement. "In this situation, the standard is simple: who not only opposes AO29, but also refuses to recognize it — both elements being necessary."
Administrative Order No. 29, issued in 2012, formally designates the specific maritime areas west of the country as the West Philippine Sea, and directs all government entities to adopt the name in official documents.
In the DND statement on Friday, Teodoro said this standard also holds more weight now following the government's recent filing of nautical charts for Scarborough and Panatag Shoal. The Philippines last month formally deposited its official nautical chart of Scarborough Shoal with the United Nations, an action it says goes toward its efforts to "reinforce the legal certainty of its maritime entitlements."
The DND chief, however, said he draws the line against judging Filipinos based solely on their own opinions.
"In the same way that red-tagging and other such ad hoc practices are not employed by this organization, tagging Filipinos on the basis of belief rather than covert or overt acts is not done by the Defense Department," Teodoro said.
'Name the officials'
Duterte made her challenge on Thursday, August 6, in Davao City, in an interview. She was asked to react to Teodoro's call for officials who defend China's position to resign.
"You can't just release a statement and not name the officials," she said. "And of course, even the president might be suspect as long as there's no list."
She said Filipinos deserved to know exactly which officials the defense chief was referring to.
Teodoro made the original call at a news forum, arguing that elected officials have a duty to uphold the Constitution and the country's laws, including its maritime policies. Those who cannot support the Philippine position on the West Philippine Sea, he said, should either resign or ask the Supreme Court to strike down the policy.
The exchange also follows a public clash between Teodoro and Duterte's brother, Rep. Paolo Duterte (Davao City).
On August 1, the congressman accused the defense secretary of demonizing China and told him to stop administering loyalty tests "as if he owns the government."
Malacañang sided with the defense chief, with Palace Press Officer Claire Castro saying on August 3 that the congressman's position is alarming for a lawmaker.
Beijing has already acted against Teodoro
China sanctioned Mr. Teodoro on June 11, barring him, his wife and his child from entering the mainland, Hong Kong and Macao, and prohibiting Chinese entities from dealing with them. Its foreign ministry said he had repeatedly made erroneous remarks about China.
The Department of Foreign Affairs called the move an unfriendly act.
Duterte has rarely spoken about the specifics of the Philippines' tensions with China at sea, including the harassment of Philippine vessels by China's fleet. She has repeatedly argued the country should stay in the middle rather than lean on the United States and has criticized Marcos for his so-called pro-US turn.
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