Vice President Sara Duterte and Defense Secretary Gilberto "Gibo" Teodoro Jr. Maria Tan and Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News
MANILA — Vice President Sara Duterte on Thursday urged Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. to identify the officials he was referring to when he said those who refuse to support the country’s policy on the West Philippine Sea should consider resigning.
Duterte said that since Teodoro did not name anyone, even President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. could be included in the supposed list.
“Siguro, para klaro sa lahat ng mga kababayan natin, dapat pangalanan kung sino ‘yung mga officials na tinutukoy niya na nagde-defend sa China over the West Philippine Sea issue kasi hindi pwedeng magbitaw ka ng ganon na salita,” Duterte told reporters in Davao City.
“Hindi mo naman pangalanan yung mga opisyal, at siyempre, suspek kahit ang presidente natin, kasali sa suspek doon kasi walang pangalan, walang listahan ng pangalan,” she added.
Palace backs Gibo: 'Pro-China' PH officials must reveal themselves
Teodoro on Friday said his recent remarks about public officials and the West Philippine Sea were based on their actions—not their beliefs.
In a statement released by the Department of National Defense (DND), Teodoro said the department uses “objective criteria” in dealing with issues involving the reputation of Filipinos.
He said the DND’s concern is with officials who both oppose and refuse to recognize Administrative Order No. 29, especially after the Philippines recently filed nautical charts for Bajo de Masinloc or Panatag Shoal.
Philippines protests over Chinese structure built near Bajo de Masinloc
“The DND works on objective criteria and no other standard in cases involving the reputation of our citizens. In this situation, the standard is simple: who not only opposes AO29, but also refuses to recognize it—both elements being necessary, especially in light of our recent filing of nautical charts for Bajo de Masinloc and Panatag,” Teodoro said.
Administrative Order No. 29 designates the West Philippine Sea, including the disputed Bajo de Masinloc (also known as Panatag Shoal), as part of the Philippines' official policy.
Teodoro also stressed that the DND does not label Filipinos based only on their beliefs.
“In the same way that red-tagging and other such ad hoc practices are not employed by this organization, tagging Filipinos on the basis of belief rather than covert or overt acts is not done by the Defense Department,” the defense chief said.
Teodoro urges ASEAN to back PH’s 2016 Arbitral Award
Teodoro: China has no right to interfere in activities in our territory
Defense chief Teodoro says to 'keep doing my duty' after China sanctions