MANILA – The government is set to investigate donations made by Chinese nationals recently arrested for alleged espionage, following reports that they provided cash and vehicles to the Philippine National Police (PNP) and various local government units (LGUs).
Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro assured the public on Monday that authorities will thoroughly examine the matter.
“As of now, we are studying this. If these donations were given in good faith, we need to determine that because receiving donations is not necessarily wrong,” Castro said during a Malacañang press briefing.
She noted that during the pandemic, several localities, including Davao City, received various donations from China, such as ambulances and vehicles. While accepting donations is generally acceptable, Castro emphasized the need to scrutinize whether they were made with ulterior motives.
Four of the five arrested Chinese nationals—Wang Yongyi, Wu Junren, Cai Shaohuang, and Chen Haitao—allegedly have ties to Chinese Communist Party-affiliated groups that facilitated the donations. They were apprehended in late January for reportedly gathering images and maps of Philippine naval forces near the West Philippine Sea.
Castro reiterated that President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. will not ignore the issue, stressing that it must be investigated to ensure that no public officials were unknowingly manipulated.
“The President will not let this pass. If such reports reach us, they must be investigated,” she added.
Key Points:
Authorities will probe whether donations were made in good faith or with hidden intentions.
Four arrested Chinese nationals are linked to donations to PNP and LGUs.
The President has vowed a thorough investigation to prevent potential security threats.
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