Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. on Wednesday questioned the allegations of espionage against three Filipinos who were arrested in China.
In an ambush interview, Teodoro pointed out that Manila’s concern is China’s activities in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) and not inside Beijing.
“Ano bang capability ng Pilipinong mang-spiya doon? Anong capability natin? Anong interest natin malaman kung anong nangyayari doon sa loob ng bansa nila?” Teodoro said.
(What is the capability of the Filipinos to spy there? What is our capability? What is our interest in knowing what is happening inside their country?)
“Ang interest natin, iyong ginagawa nila sa WPS. Meron ba tayong interest kung anong nangyayari doon sa mga lugar na inaano na, ano pakialam natin doon, ‘di ba?” he added.
(Our interest is what they are doing in the WPS. Do we have any interest in what is happening in those places they are talking about, what do we care about that, right?)
Teodoro also said that China is a “closed society” and “police state” that no person with common sense will attempt to conduct espionage there.
“Sa katunayan, sa closed society na police state, pwede bang mag-espiya ang isang tao eh paggising mo pa lang alam na nila yung ginagawa mo. Sinong may sentido kumon gagawa nyan? Wala,” he said.
(In fact, in a closed society that is a police state, can someone spy when you wake up and they already know what you are doing. Who with common sense would do that? No one.)
GMA News Online has reached out to the Chinese Embassy in Manila for comment but it has yet to provide a statement as of posting time.
On April 4, Chinese state media Global Times reported that three Filipinos were allegedly arrested for suspected espionage.
“China’s state security authorities have uncovered a case of Filipino espionage and apprehended three Filipino nationals suspected of spying in the country,” Global Times said on X (formerly Twitter).
“The investigation revealed that Philippine intelligence agencies have long been focused on gathering information about China’s military deployments,” it added.