AFP says China possibly behind fake Teodoro letter

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The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said Wednesday that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) could be behind the circulation of a fake letter allegedly signed by Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr., possibly with the involvement of some Filipinos.

The fake letter was dated July 31 and contained claims about alleged maritime law enforcement in the West Philippine Sea, as well as issues concerning Philippine politics.

“Sa military, we look at indicators, and indicators will point na ito ay galaw ng Chinese Communist Party or yung kanilang mga galamay na minsan may kasamang Pilipino doon,” AFP spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad said in a virtual interview.

(In the military, we look at indicators, and the indicators point to this being a move by the Chinese Communist Party or its tentacles, which sometimes include Filipinos.)

According to Trinidad, the fabricated document could be intended to discredit government officials and weaken the Philippines' alliance with the United States.

“We don't have to look far. Sino ba ang may makinabang kapag lumabas ito at nag-away-away ang Pilipino at nasira ang reputasyon ng ating SND at na-discredit ang alliance with the US? Kaninong interest ang ma-advance nito? Yung interest ng Chinese Communist Party,” he said.

(We don't have to look far. Who will benefit if this comes out, Filipinos fight among themselves, the reputation of our SND [Secretary of National Defense] is damaged, and the alliance with the US is discredited? Whose interests will this advance? The interests of the Chinese Communist Party.)

GMA News Online has sought comment from the Chinese Embassy in Manila, but the office had yet to provide a statement as of posting time.

On Tuesday, the Department of National Defense (DND) warned the public against a fabricated letter supposedly signed by Teodoro and addressed to a person identified as Peter Enzminger.

“The Department unequivocally states that the document and its content are obviously and absolutely false and fake. The matter has been referred to the National Bureau of Investigation for proper investigation,” Teodoro said.

“This is yet another episode of foreign interference and malign influence that is intended to discredit the legitimate and lawful efforts of the Philippine government to assert its national sovereignty and territorial integrity,” he added.— MCG, GMA News

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