Jauhn Etienne Villaruel

Defense Secretary Gilberto C. Teodoro, Jr. during the 4th State of the Nation Address of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr at the House of Representatives in Quezon City on July 28, 2025.    Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

Bianca Dava

Eon Sanchez

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/178122314879420250728-4th-sona-gilbert-teodoro-JC0036.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Defense Secretary Gilberto C. Teodoro, Jr. during the 4th State of the Nation Address of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr at the House of Representatives in Quezon City on July 28, 2025<em>. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/File</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA <strong>(UPDATE) </strong>— Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. on Friday said he remains undeterred by sanctions imposed by China against him and his family, vowing to continue carrying out his duties.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/6/3/teodoro-shrugs-off-reported-china-entry-ban-says-he-has-no-assets-there-1740">Teodoro shrugs off reported China entry ban, says he has no assets there</a></div><p>Reacting to Beijing’s decision, Teodoro said the sanctions were consistent with how China deals with its critics.</p><p>“That is their right. That is truly what they do to those who speak the truth against their deception. Their own countrymen and the others under their control suffer far worse,” Teodoro said.</p><p>“I will just keep doing my duty and uphold our nation in the face of the wickedness they are committing here and even in our seas,” he added.</p><p>China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Thursday announced sanctions against Teodoro and his family, claiming he had “repeatedly made irresponsible remarks on China” that allegedly harmed Beijing’s “legitimate interests” and affected bilateral relations.</p><p>Under the sanctions, Teodoro, his wife, and child are barred from entering mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macau.</p><p>Chinese entities are likewise prohibited from engaging in transactions, cooperation, or other activities with them.</p><p>Beijing said the sanctions were imposed to “uphold China’s sovereignty, security, and development interests.”</p><div><br/></div><p>&#x27;<strong>WE DISAGREE BUT IT&#x27;S THEIR RIGHT&#x27;</strong></p><div><br/></div><p>Sought for reaction on China&#x27;s move, Department of Foreign Affairs Secretary Maria Theresa Lazaro said the Philippines does not believe sanctions are the best way to address disagreements between countries.</p><p>Speaking to reporters in San Juan City, Lazaro said China has the sovereign right to impose such measures but maintained that the move was not consistent with healthy relations between states.</p><p>“’Yung mga sinabi ng China is their sovereign right. However, we are of the view na hindi tama ’yan sa pag-uugnayan ng mga bansa,” Lazaro said.</p><p>Lazaro said the Philippine government disagrees with the decision.</p><p>“Tingin namin, hindi tama ’yung pag-ban nila kay Secretary [Gibo] Teodoro saka sa kanyang pamilya,” she said. </p><p>(We believe that the ban against Teodoro and his family was not proper.)</p><p>“However, ito pa rin ay sovereign right nila ‘yan. Kagaya din natin, kung gusto nating i-ban certain people, it’s the sovereign right of the Philippines. Pero we will still try to discuss with the Chinese authorities.”</p><div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&amp;href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Freel%2F2025190218078241%2F&amp;show_text=false&amp;width=560&amp;t=0" width="560" height="314" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span>Asked whether Manila was considering imposing counter-sanctions, Lazaro said such a move is not being considered.</div><p>“Hindi natin ginagawa ‘yan (We do not do such thing). We’ve never imposed any sanctions and kung meron man, kung meron silang pagkakamali, then we [will] have a diplomatic protest. ‘Yun ang ginagawa natin at we don’t impose sanctions,” she said.</p><p>The foreign affairs chief emphasized that the Philippines has consistently favored diplomatic engagement and dialogue in dealing with disputes and differences with other countries.</p><p>Teodoro had earlier shrugged off reports that he and his family had been barred from entering China and could face asset restrictions, saying he neither owns assets in the country nor intends to visit.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/4/21/gibo-teodoro-criticizes-china-after-its-remark-vs-balikatan-exercises-1128">Defense chief criticizes &#x27;sinister&#x27; China intentions after its remark vs Balikatan exercises</a></div><p>“Wala akong assets sa China at wala akong balak pumunta doon,” Teodoro told reporters in Cagayan de Oro City on June 3.</p><p>“Gusto ko man dumalaw dahil masarap ang pagkain at mababait ang mga tao, pero natatabunan ito sa klase ng gobyerno na meron sila,” he added.</p><p>The remarks came after reports citing an unnamed source who claimed Chinese authorities had prohibited Teodoro and his family from entering China and were looking into possible assets they may own in the country.</p><p>The same source linked the alleged move to a law enforcement operation conducted at the Philippine Sanjia Steel Corporation in Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental, where authorities discovered 69 Chinese nationals handling harmful or noxious materials.</p><p>The May 15 raid was carried out by personnel from the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC), Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), and National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).</p><p>The steel manufacturing facility is located within the Philippine Veterans Investment Development Corporation (PHIVIDEC) Industrial Estate, a semi-autonomous government-owned and controlled corporation (GOCC) under the supervision of the Department of National Defense (DND).</p><p>The sanctions come amid continuing tensions between Manila and Beijing over the West Philippine Sea, where Philippine officials have repeatedly condemned China’s coercive and aggressive behavior.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO</strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/pWhZ8va8ttE?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>Gilberto Teodoro as well as his spouse and child will be banned from entering China's mainland, Hong Kong and Macau, an unnamed foreign ministry spokesperson said in an online statement on Thursday.</p>

Gilberto Teodoro as well as his spouse and child will be banned from entering China's mainland, Hong Kong and Macau, an unnamed foreign ministry spokesperson said in an online statement on Thursday.

Defense chief Teodoro says to 'keep doing my duty' after China sanctions

News

Entertainment

Lifestyle

Sports

Metro.Style

More

Sudoku

Word of the Day

Lotto

Horoscope

Nation

Defense chief Teodoro says to 'keep doing my duty' after China sanctions

Bianca Dava,

Eon Sanchez,

ABS-CBN News

Published June 12, 2026 08:13 AM PHT

|

Updated June 12, 2026 11:18 AM PHT

Read More:

Beijing

China

philippines

diplomacy

defense

sanctions

Agence France-Presse

gilbert teodoro

dnd

ABS-CBN Newsletter

Your go-to source for the latest news, entertainment highlights, exclusive interviews, and updates on your favorite Kapamilya stars.

ABS-CBN Newsletter

Your go-to source for the latest news, entertainment highlights, exclusive interviews, and updates on your favorite Kapamilya stars.

Sign Up

I have read and agree to the Terms and Privacy Policy.

ABS-CBN is the leading media and entertainment company in the Philippines, offering quality content across TV, radio, digital, and film. Committed to public service and promoting Filipino values, ABS-CBN continues to inspire and connect audiences worldwide.

Corporate

Investors

Governance

International Distribution

Corporate

Governance

Investors

International Distribution

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

AI Policy

Terms of Service

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.