DND hits back at Chinese Embassy anew for being ‘evasive,’ ‘deceptive’

MANILA, Philippines – The Department of National Defense (DND) hit back Sunday at the Chinese Embassy in Manila over its recent statements against Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro, who alleged a “cover-up” of illegal activities involving Chinese nationals in the country.

In a statement early Sunday, Chinese Embassy spokesperson Ji Lingpeng characterized Teodoro’s accusations as “completely unfounded,” saying it opposed “discriminatory or selective law enforcement campaigns targeting Chinese nationals… out of political considerations.”

DND spokesperson Arsenio Andolong responded in a separate statement: “The Chinese Embassy’s response does not contain any answers. Instead, it is full of questions and rhetoric. This is a classic example of evasiveness and a badge of deception.”

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“This is, in legal practice, an implied admission of culpability. They cannot hide behind their disingenuous misinformation,” Andolong added.

Teodoro had accused the Chinese government of “actively covering up” for Chinese nationals arrested in a steel plant in Misamis Oriental in May for the supposed production of “substandard, radioactively tainted steel,” dumping of untreated water into rivers and release of untreated toxic fumes.

This was questioned by the Chinese embassy twice, accusing Teodoro of “anti-China activities” and “destabilizing and sabotaging China-Philippines relations.” /dl