Palace: Officials bribed to remain silent on West Philippine Sea are traitors

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The Palace on Friday lambasted officials who remained silent on territorial issues like the West Philippine Sea, especially those who accepted bribes to do so.

Without naming names, Palace Press Officer Claire Castro did not mince words when asked about former senator Antonio Trillanes’ accusation that Vice President Sara Duterte’s husband, lawyer Manases Carpio, received money from China.

“Kung sapat ang ebidensya, hindi ito dapat isawalang-bahala. Maituturing na pagtataksil sa bayan ang mga Filipino lalo na kung sila ay mga public official na kaya pala tahimik sa mga karahasang natatanggap ng iba nating mangingisda sa kamay ng mga dayuhan, at ang iba naman ay handang ipamigay ang parte ng ating teritoryo o karapatan sa WPS ay dahil natatapalan ng pera ang kanilang mga mata para talikuran ang pagmamahal sa sariling bayan at ibenta ang ating kalayaan,” Castro said in a message to reporters.

(If the evidence is sufficient, then this should not be downplayed. Filipinos, especially public officials, are guilty of betraying the country if they are silent on the violence faced by our fisherfolks in the hands of foreigners, with some of them even ready to give away parts of the WPS because they were blinded by money to forget their love of the nation and sell out freedom.)

Castro said that the administration has not passed judgment, but the public must be made aware if there is enough evidence.

“Ang mga kumukunsinte sa ganitong gawain ay dapat na kalusin hindi bukas... kundi ngayon. Huwag natin hayaan ang ibang opisyal pa natin ang siyang dudurog sa sarili nating bansa. Gumising tayong lahat,” she said.

(Those who tolerate such activities must be weeded out—not tomorrow, but today! Let us not allow any of our own officials to destroy our country. Let us all wake up!)

Trillanes had accused Carpio of accepting P319 million in cash from China through his company, the CALE88. —LDF, GMA News