Manila: Retired and active members of the military and police expressed late Monday night their support to Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. even as they condemned the Chinese sanctions imposed on the latter and his immediate family last week.
According to Philippines News Agency, the Association of General and Flag Officers (AGFO) issued a statement strongly condemning China's recent imposition of sanctions and entry bans against Secretary Gilberto C. Teodoro Jr. and his family. They criticized China's actions as coercive and not a legitimate exercise of diplomacy, labeling them as aggressive, unjustified, and unfriendly. AGFO emphasized that such measures aim to intimidate leadership and undermine the Philippines' sovereign right to defend its territorial integrity.
AGFO expressed unwavering solidarity with Secretary Teodoro, praising his resolute stance and vocal defense of the Philippines' sovereign rights in the West Philippine Sea. The group asserted that his remarks are necessary and duty-bound expressions of a nation defending its rightful claims under international law, specifically the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the 2016 Arbitral Award.
Furthermore, AGFO criticized the personal sanctions against Teodoro as an attempt to isolate Philippine leadership and weaken national resolve. The association commended Secretary Teodoro for his steadfast refusal to yield to foreign pressure, voicing full support for his leadership, the DND, and the armed forces tasked with safeguarding the country's maritime borders amidst increasing external aggression.
The sanctions by China, announced on June 11, bar Teodoro and his immediate family from entering mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macao, and prohibit Chinese entities from conducting business with them. The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs justified the sanctions by accusing Teodoro of making irresponsible remarks that allegedly undermine China's legitimate interests and harm China-Philippines relations. However, no specific remarks were cited. Like many Philippine officials, Teodoro has been vocal in asserting the nation's rights and interests over the contested West Philippine Sea.
