Jonathan Frederic De Santos

Members of fisherfolk group Pamalakaya sail for a collective fishing expedition at Panatag Shoal, May 31, 2024. ABS-CBN News/File

Article (news)

Jervis Manahan

Bianca Dava

<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/17857384597611785738458542.jpeg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Members of fisherfolk group Pamalakaya sail for a collective fishing expedition at Panatag Shoal, May 31, 2024. ABS-CBN News/File </span></span></span></div><p>MANILA— The Palace on Monday said it would be better for pro-China government officials to reveal themselves as the administration emphasized the Philippines&#x27; position on maritime issues with the economic giant.</p><p>Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro last week called on pro-China government officials to resign, prompting Davao City Rep. Paolo Duterte to accuse him of &quot;demonizing China&quot; and conducting a loyalty check on officials.</p><p>Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said in a press conference on Monday that officials who have sentiments similar to Rep. Duterte to disclose them.</p><p>&quot;[P]ara makita natin kung sino ba talaga ang totoong nagmamahal sa bansang Pilipinas,&quot; she said.</p><p>(So we can see who really loves the Philippines.)</p><p>She said officials are expected to advance the country&#x27;s interests, adding it is &quot;very alarming&quot; that the Davao City lawmaker saw Teodoro&#x27;s statement as a loyalty check.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/2/24/wrap-what-do-they-mean-when-they-talk-about-pro-china-candidates-1330">What do they mean when they talk about ‘Pro-China’ candidates?</a></div><p>She said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and his administration does not see Teodoro&#x27;s statement as improper. Instead, she said, it demonstrated nationalism.</p><p>&quot;Ang sabi nga ng pangulo pagdating sa pagpuprotekta sa ating interes kahit anuman ang ating kulay, kahit magkakaiba ang pananaw sa ibang issues pero ang patungkol sa pagmamahal sa bansa hindi ito pinag-uusapan,&quot; she said.</p><p>(As the president said, when it comes to protecting our national interests, even if we have different political colors and differences on certain issues, when it comes to love for nation, that is not up for debate.)</p><p>Castro acknowledged smooth Philippine-China relations in trade and investments and said these are separate from tensions over the West Philippine Sea — the part of the South China Sea in the Philippines&#x27; exclusive economic zone.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/22/chinese-envoy-distances-beijing-from-china-daily-s-monkey-video-on-filipinos-0008">Chinese envoy distances Beijing from China Daily&#x27;s &#x27;monkey&#x27; video on Filipinos</a></div><div><strong>UNCLOS</strong></div><p>The Palace also maintained that the Philippines has not violated the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea with the country&#x27;s submission of the official nautical chart of the Bajo de Masinloc to the United Nations.</p><p>China condemned the submission, saying the Philippines has violated the law, but Castro said the Philippines followed UNCLOS and domestic laws in doing so.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/23/palace-marcos-wants-reset-in-ph-china-relations-after-ayungin-incident-1414">Palace: Marcos wants ‘reset’ in PH-China relations after Ayungin incident</a></div><p>&quot;Hindi tayo lalagpas diyan, hindi tayo mang-aangkin ng teritoryo, ng anumang karapatan ng iba,&quot; she said.</p><p>(We will not go beyond that. We are not laying claim to territory or rights that are not our own.)</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>‘I DEMAND ACCURACY’  </strong></div><div><br/></div><p>Teodoro, meanwhile, responded to Duterte’s statement by saying: “Well, karakterisasyon niya ‘yun. Meron naman nagsasabi na tama lang. Democracy to eh.” </p><p>“Ang importante lang, ‘yung tunay na sinabi ko, ‘yun ang dapat lumabas,” he said after his keynote address at the 37th Annual International Military Law and Operations (MILOPS) Conference Conference in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.</p><p>“I’m not asking for fairness. Ang fairness, kanya-kanya yan... Pero I demand accuracy,” he said. </p><p>Teodoro’s remarks came after he clarified that his earlier statement on the possible resignation of public officials was not directed at people simply because of their beliefs or political views.</p><p>The official said his comments were anchored on Administrative Order No. 29, which defines the Philippines’ maritime areas in the West Philippine Sea, and concerned the actions of public officials in relation to their duty to uphold government policy.</p><div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/8/2/teodoro-reminds-public-officials-of-duty-to-defend-west-philippine-sea-policy-2113">Teodoro reminds public officials of duty to defend West Philippine Sea policy</a></div><p>“Ang sinabi ko, maliwanag, AO 29, batas ‘yan… Kung salungat ‘yung gawa, hindi ‘yung paniwala, ‘yung gawa tungkol dito—so, ‘yun yung usapan natin,” he said. </p><p>Teodoro said the issue of whether an official should resign arises only if that official cannot fulfill the legal obligations attached to his office.</p><p>“Hindi ka naman pwedeng humingi ng resignation basta-basta kung walang violation. Halal ‘yan,” he said. </p><p>Asked about Duterte’s comment that Filipino soldiers could be risking their lives in a war resulting from the defense chief’s personal ego, Teodoro said the military’s actions are directed toward protecting Philippine interests.</p><p>“What are our soldiers doing everyday but fighting for the interests of the Philippines? Now, will we go to war for that? That’s up to China,” he said. </p><p>Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Rear Admiral Jay Tarriela added that there was need to portray Beijing negatively because its actions in the West Philippine Sea speak for themselves.</p><p>“Hindi naman natin kailangang i-demonize ang China dahil sa araw-araw na ginagawa nila sa West Philippine Sea—sa encroachment, aggression, bullying sa mga mangingisdang Pilipino. There’s no need for us to demonize China. Ginagawa ng China ito araw-araw,” Tarriela told reporters in the same conference.</p>

<p>Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro last week called on pro-China government officials to resign, prompting Davao City Rep. Paolo Duterte to accuse him of "demonizing China" and conducting a loyalty check on officials.</p>

Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro last week called on pro-China government officials to resign, prompting Davao City Rep. Paolo Duterte to accuse him of "demonizing China" and conducting a loyalty check on officials.

Palace backs Gibo: 'Pro-China' PH officials must reveal themselves

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Palace backs Gibo: 'Pro-China' PH officials must reveal themselves

Jervis Manahan,

Bianca Dava

Published August 03, 2026 02:29 PM PHT

|

Updated August 03, 2026 03:36 PM PHT

Read More:

Palace

Claire Castro

Paolo Duterte

China

West Philippine Sea

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