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PCG spokesman: Me, a CIA agent? I'm flattered

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ABS-CBN News

A Philippine Coast Guard spokesman laughed off claims by pro-China groups that he is a CIA agent after he continued to expose Chinese vessels venturing inside Philippine waters. &quot;Actually na-flattered ako para sabihing CIA agent ako. Parang pang Hollywood movies lang. Nakakatawa lang, anong basis? Meron ba silang dokumento to prove that claim?&quot; PCG spokesman Jay Tarriela said in a TeleRadyo Serbisyo interview. A Philippine Star article earlier said a Twitter account exhibiting troll-like behavior first posted accusations that Tarriela worked for the US government’s Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) around two hours after the spokesman called Filipinos defending China as “unpatriotic” and “traitors.”<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/08/10/23/pcg-official-calls-pro-china-filipinos-traitors">&#x27;Traitors&#x27;: PCG official slams Filipinos defending China in fresh maritime row</a></li></ul>Tarriela said he has ignored trolls and fake news peddlers so as not to give them a platform. &quot;No matter how many lies they are going to write against me, it&#x27;s ok with me kasi ang pinag-uusapan na natin bayan na natin,&quot; he said. The spokesman earlier warned pro-China groups and individuals are using 3 &quot;claims, arguments and accusations&quot; to contradict factual reports from Philippine authorities.<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/10/25/23/dnd-says-moving-to-counter-chinas-disinformation-on-wps">DND says moving to counter China&#x27;s disinformation on West Philippine Sea</a></li></ul>The first claim is that speaking up against China&#x27;s aggression in the West Philippine Sea will lead us into a war.&quot;FACT: Exposing China&#x27;s aggression is not inciting war. By keeping our political leaders and countrymen aware of China’s violations of international law, we are safeguarding our country from political manipulation and disinformation,&quot; the spokesman said. He said the second argument used by pro-China individuals is that the Philippines&#x27; transparency on Chinese aggression in the West Philippine is &quot;solely influenced by the United States.&quot;Finally, he said pro-China individuals are accusing those who are critical of China as being &quot;anti-Filipino and pro-US.&quot;<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/10/31/23/ph-coast-guard-exposes-pro-china-narratives-of-some-filipinos">PH Coast Guard exposes &#x27;pro-China narratives&#x27; of some Filipinos</a></li></ul>

A Philippine Coast Guard spokesman laughed off claims by pro-China groups that he is a CIA agent. 'Parang pang Hollywood movies lang.'