MANILA, Philippines — Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. on Wednesday brushed off reports that he and his family had supposedly been barred from entering China which he said he does not have plans on going into.
“Wala akong assets sa China. Alam mo merong akong ninuno nung araw, six or seven generations ago, nagpunta dito. Isang ninuno. Tama ang desisyon niya na hindi na bumalik doon eh kung hindi nagkaganito ang aking status sa buhay. Wala akong asset sa China, wala akong balak pumunta doon,” Teodoro said in an interview on Wednesday during his visit at the 4th Infantry (Diamond) Division (4ID) in Cagayan de Oro.
“May balak sana ako kasi gusto ko talagang dumalaw, masarap ang pagkain, mabait ang tao pero natatabunan ito sa klase ng gobyerno na mapanikil,” Teodoro said.
Teodoro has been the subject of Chinese government counter attacks for his strong stance on the legal rights of the Philippines in its territory being illegally claimed by China. In many instances he had engaged Chinese officials head on in debates in international forums creating steaming remarks from their government.
In the recently concluded 2026 Shangri-La Dialogue, Teodoro slammed China's continued illegal, coercive and aggressive presence in the West Philippine Sea as well as its deceptive messaging.
“It’s a lost opportunity. Hindi naman sa ayaw mong pumunta. Gusto mo rin eh, ang laking bansa na yun, ang daming kultura. Pero kung yung asal ng gobyerno mo na wala namang karapatan ang mamamayan mo eh ‘wag na lang,” Teodoro said.