ASIATODAY.ID, MANILA – The Philippine government will investigate donations from a Chinese citizen who was recently arrested on suspicion of espionage.
The donations were made to the Philippine National Police (PNP) and several local government units (LGUs).
Deputy Secretary of the Presidential Communications Office (PCO), Claire Castro, stated that an investigation would be carried out thoroughly to determine the purpose of the donation. He emphasized that it was necessary to know whether the donation was given with good intentions or had ulterior motives.
“Right now, we will study it. “If this is a donation given with good intentions, we need to know because accepting donations is not wrong,” said Castro during a press conference, Monday, March 3 2025, quoted by the Philippine News Agency.
Castro added that if there are indications that donations were made with a specific purpose that could endanger national security, they must be investigated. He also reminded of similar donations from China during the pandemic, including ambulances and vehicles.
He said that these donations had previously been received by several regions in the Philippines. The four Chinese citizens who were arrested, namely Wang Yongyi, Wu Junren, Cai Shaohuang, and Chen Haitao, were suspected of collecting data on the Philippine military.
They are said to have donated cash and vehicles to the police and local government. The money and vehicles were donated through groups affiliated with the Chinese Communist Party.
Responding to this, Castro emphasized that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. would not let this case pass without investigation. He stressed the importance of checking all forms of suspicious donations to maintain transparency and state security.
Currently, the authorities are verifying the operational status of the motorbikes that have been donated. The Philippine government ensures that all forms of suspicious donations will be dealt with firmly. (AT Network)
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