‘Disturbing’: Marcos Jr. says China funding claim vs. Sara Duterte ‘threat at the highest level’ if proven true

SINGAPORE — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. confirmed that the Department of National Defense is “thoroughly investigating” the allegations against Vice President Sara Duterte and her spouse of receiving millions of pesos worth of funding from the Chinese government, calling it a “threat at the highest level” if proven true.

Former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV earlier claimed that China funneled around P319 million through Manases Carpio’s Cale88 Foods Corporation, while Duterte’s Tapang at Malasakit Alliance for the Philippines Incorporated received P150 million from the Chinese Embassy for the construction of 13 classrooms. 

“The most disturbing aspect of it is the Chinese money. That now rises to a national security issue kung totoo. If it is true, it is a national security issue,” Marcos Jr. stated at a press briefing on the last day of his five-day working visit to Singapore on Sunday, October 11. 

“Nothing would make me happier than proof that it is not true. Then it’s one less thing that I have to worry about. But if it is true, it is a threat at the highest level to the Republic,” he added.

The commander-in-chief said he does not want to “waste time on rumor or speculation” as he is putting a premium on the ongoing inquiry to validate the claims. 

“Kung hindi totoo, ‘di mabuti. Then that’s one less thing we all need to worry about. But if it’s true, it would be unfortunately one more thing that we would have to worry about and it would go straight to the top of our list of threats that are facing the Philippines,” he said.

“Ibang usapan ito. We are talking about the sovereignty of the Republic. We are talking about the safety and security of the state. And I cannot think of any discussion that occurs at a higher level than that. That’s the way we are approaching it,” the chief executive added.

Both the vice president’s camp and the Chinese Embassy earlier denied the allegations.

Defense chief Gilbert Teodoro earlier said that the claims, if substantiated, would pose serious national security implications.

The National Security Council will also look into its potential national security implications, noting that allegations which were also brought up during Duterte’s impeachment trial need to be “properly examined within established legal processes” and warrant “careful, in-depth, and responsible assessment.”