Padilla blames PCG spokesperson for 'propaganda war' vs. China

Senator Robin Padilla on Friday blamed Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) spokesperson Jay Tarriela for escalating "wartime propaganda" in his response to a viral video from Beijing media that seemingly depicted Filipinos as monkeys. In a Facebook post, Padilla lambasted the PCG official, stating that Tarriela was the one who "drew first blood" and that the escalation into "wartime propaganda" was his "genius creation." The AI-generated video from China Daily has been widely criticized by Philippine officials as a racist attack. It depicted a monkey in a barong (Filipino national attire) being directed to sing by arms bearing US and Japanese flags before being blasted with a water cannon. Padilla had previously commented on the video, stating, "As for the Chinese media, aren't we all monkeys of different colors in the eyes of white colonizers/supremacists?" He added, "Filipinos are brown, and Chinese and Japanese are yellow. We cannot deny our relativity to each other.” He further asserted that "Going down to Mr. Tarriela's level is abandoning our Asian and Austronesian heritage." Tarriela shot back at the senator, denying the claim that it was propaganda. He explained that the PCG was merely exposing Chinese aggression towards Filipino fisherfolk, as well as personnel from the PCG and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources. "I believe it is an insult to the more than 26 million Filipinos who voted for you that you accepted that we are monkeys,” Tarriela said in a mix of English and Filipino. He stated that China had exposed how they viewed Filipinos and that he could not accept the demeaning remark about his country. The controversy comes amid rising tensions between the Philippines and China over maritime claims in the South China Sea, with the Philippine government facing pressure to take a firmer stance against Chinese activities in the disputed waters. Information source: GMA News Philippines