The Department of National Defense (DND) on Sunday hit back at the Chinese Embassy, accusing it of evading key issues raised by Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. amid the escalating dispute over the arrest of Chinese workers in Misamis Oriental.
In a statement, DND spokesperson Asec. Arsenio R. Andolong said the Chinese Embassy’s latest response to Teodoro’s earlier remarks contained no direct answers to the issues raised by the defense chief.
“The Chinese Embassy’s response does not contain any answers. Instead, it is full of questions and rhetoric,” the DND said.
The department described the response as “a classic example of evasiveness and a badge of deception,” adding that, in legal practice, such conduct could constitute “an implied admission of culpability.”
“They cannot hide behind their disingenuous misinformation,” the DND said.
“Di tayo pasisiil!” Andolong added.
The DND statement came after the Chinese Embassy accused Teodoro of “distorting the facts” over the arrest and detention of 70 Chinese nationals during a raid at Sanjia Steel Corporation in Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental, on May 15.
The embassy questioned why only Chinese workers were arrested while Filipino workers were released, and why the Chinese nationals were transported to Manila aboard a military aircraft. It also raised concerns over their detention conditions and alleged that Philippine authorities failed to provide consular notification or arrange consular visits.
The Chinese Embassy further cited a May 28 resolution that it said ordered the release of the 70 Chinese nationals unless they were being held for other lawful reasons. It also rejected Teodoro’s allegation that Chinese Embassy officials intervened in Philippine law enforcement, saying consular protection is part of an embassy’s responsibilities.
Teodoro, however, has maintained that the Chinese nationals were involved in illegal activities and accused Chinese Embassy officials of interfering in Philippine law enforcement proceedings.
He earlier identified two key questions that he said Beijing continued to avoid: whether the Chinese nationals arrested in the Philippines were involved in illegal activities and whether Chinese Embassy officials intervened in local law enforcement operations.
“The Chinese Foreign Ministry continues to evade the crucial issue. The first question is: were these individuals involved in illegal activities?” Teodoro said.
