Teodoro: Intelligence gathering ongoing amid 'Manchurian candidate' fears

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Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. on Friday said authorities continue to gather intelligence information amid fears that China might try to influence the 2028 elections and push for the election of officials who would serve its interests.

In an interview on Super Radyo dzBB, Teodoro was asked whether authorities had received information about candidates being supported by China and who could advance Beijing's interests.

“Well, tuloy-tuloy ang intelligence gathering namin at pakikipag-ugnayan namin sa law enforcement officials. Ngunit kung walang matibay na ebidensya, siyempre, mahirap din na basta na lang pumataw ng bintang,” he told Super Radyo dzBB in an interview.

(Well, our intelligence gathering is ongoing, and we are in contact with law enforcement officials. But it is difficult if there is no solid evidence and we just make accusations.)

The Defense Secretary cited the case of former Bamban, Tarlac mayor Alice Guo, who was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment for qualified human trafficking linked to illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) operations.

Teodoro said the public should pay attention to statements made by candidates concerning the West Philippine Sea (WPS) as voters ultimately have the power to prevent foreign-backed personalities from gaining influence.

“’Yan ang pinakamagandang depensa laban sa, diumano, may mga tinatawag na Manchurian candidate sa sine. So, nasa taong-bayan 'yan. Demand yan for national dignity. Demand ’yan para sa pagpatatag ng Pilipinas,” he added.

(That is the best defense against, supposedly, those called Manchurian candidates in the movies. So, that is up to the people. That is a demand for national dignity. That is a demand for the stabilization of the Philippines.)

The term Manchurian candidate refers to a politically influential person who is secretly working for or controlled by an unfriendly power.

GMA News Online is trying to get a comment from the Chinese Embassy and will publish it as soon as it is available.

Teodoro went viral on social media recently after he lashed out at China's massive claims in the South China Sea when he was handed an unsigned note while speaking before a defense and security forum in Seoul, South Korea.

The note said China didn't recognize the arbitral award that nullified its historical claims in the South China Sea.

"Of course. Because you lost,” Teodoro said in a panel discussion at the Seoul Defense Dialog as he responded to the pro-China points raised in the note. It was not clear where it came from.

In a news conference, the Chinese Foreign Ministry, without naming Teodoro address what happened at the forum and said the Filipino "individual" should cut the “provocations and theatrics.”

“I’m not sure what exactly happened at the event, but China’s position has always been clear on the so-called ‘South China Sea arbitration’. The Philippines unilaterally initiated the case, which is a distortion and abuse of the UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea) dispute settlement mechanism. It is the Philippine side that has violated UNCLOS and undermined its integrity and authority,” spokesperson Mao Ning said.

“We urge the certain individual of the Philippine side to cut the provocations and theatrics, and stop undermining China-Philippines relations and stability in the South China Sea,” she added. –NB, GMA News