MANILA — Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio’s camp has accused Defense Secretary Gilberto “Gibo” Teodoro of distorting her controversial “troublemaker” remark to portray her as sympathetic to China, insisting that the statement concerned an alleged drug smuggling attempt and had nothing to do with the Philippines’ territorial disputes with Beijing.
The vice president’s spokesperson, Paolo Panelo, said Teodoro had taken Duterte-Carpio’s statement out of context and turned it into political ammunition amid continuing disagreements over the government’s handling of relations with China.
Panelo maintained that the remark originally referred to illegal drugs allegedly intercepted in Laos before they could reach the Philippines, rather than the country’s position on China.
“Ang konteksto noon is ‘yung nasabat na illegal drugs sa Laos, ‘yung papunta dapat ng Pilipinas…tapos ginamit ito ni Secretary Gibo Teodoro itong troublemaker na statement ni VP Sara, ginamit niya naman sa anti-China rhetoric niya,” Panelo said.
Teodoro had earlier challenged Duterte-Carpio’s remarks, asserting that China, not the Philippines, was the real troublemaker.
Panelo criticized the defense chief for allegedly injecting politics into the China issue, warning that escalating political rhetoric could adversely affect ordinary Filipinos and businesses dependent on economic relations with Beijing.
“Kapag ang mga politiko ay pinopolitika itong China issue, ang tatamaan niyan hindi naman sila kundi ‘yung mga ordinaryong Pilipino at ‘yung mga negosyong umaasa sa ugnayan sa China,” he said.
The spokesperson also rejected allegations that Duterte-Carpio and her husband, lawyer Manases Carpio, had received financial backing from China through organizations associated with them.
However, Panelo acknowledged that the Chinese government had made a donation to the Tapang at Malasakit Foundation, where the vice president serves as a trustee.
He argued that the donation should not automatically be interpreted as evidence of Beijing’s political support for Duterte-Carpio, particularly if the funds were used for legitimate charitable activities.
“May donation ng Chinese government sa Tapangin at Malasakit [Foundation], and the Vice President is one of the trustees. Awtomatikong agad na sinusuportahan ng Chinese government si Vice President?” Panelo said.
“What if it was used to build classrooms? Or what if it was used for charitable purposes at may resibo?” he added.
Panelo’s acknowledgment of the Chinese government donation nevertheless places renewed attention on the foundation’s financial transactions and the distinction between foreign charitable assistance and alleged political backing.
His statements came amid continuing exchanges between Duterte-Carpio and administration officials over China, reflecting broader political disagreements over the Philippines’ relationship with Beijing.
The controversy also highlights the increasingly contentious political debate surrounding the country’s foreign policy, particularly as tensions with China remain a major national concern.
Panelo maintained that the vice president’s remarks should be judged according to their original context rather than interpreted as an endorsement of Beijing’s position./PN
