Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Rear Admiral Jay Tarriela on Sunday dismissed allegations by Senator Robin Padilla that a caricature of Chinese President Xi Jinping previously displayed by the official had provoked Beijing’s racist, AI-generated video mocking Filipinos.
Tarriela asserted that the responsibility for the offensive content lies solely with China.
The dispute intensified after Padilla released a social media statement doubling down on his criticisms of the Coast Guard official, accusing Tarriela of helping ignite “wartime propaganda.”
”Sir, Ingles na nga, hindi mo pa naintindihan. Sa mga mata ng mga mananakop na puti, tayong mga Asyano ay mga unggoy. Puti bang mananakop ang tingin mo sa akin? Tsaka hindi para sa iyo ang mensahe ko patungkol sa unggoy, kundi para sa media ng Tsino, upang kanilang mapag-isipan na ang ginawa nilang AI video ay isang insulto sa lahing Austronesian at Asyano,” Padilla said.
Padilla further insisted that Tarriela’s educational presentation featuring the caricature of Xi was the true catalyst for the current propaganda war between Manila and Beijing.
”Ang mensahe ko naman para sa iyo: ikaw ang nag-umpisa ng wartime propaganda na ito dahil sa paggawa mo ng karikatura ng pangulo ng Tsina, naka-uniporme ka bilang opisyal ng gobyerno na nasa ilalim pa ng executive branch. Huwag ka kasing mangongopya para batid mo rin ang kasaysayan ng kolonisasyon at digmaan,” Padilla added.
Tarriela firmly denied the lawmaker’s assertions, countering that Padilla continues to misplace blame despite prior clarifications.
”Senator Robin Padilla, mukhang kahit tinagalog ko na po ay hindi pa rin ninyo naintindihan. Kaya uulitin ko: ang racist na video ay gawa ng China, at walang kinalaman dito ang mga ‘puti’ na sinasabi ninyo. Ang dapat nating kondenahin ay ang China, dahil ang China ang gumawa at nagpakalat ng racist na video na ito,” Tarriela said.
The Coast Guard official expressed astonishment that Padilla seemed to hold a fellow Filipino accountable rather than reprimanding China for its offensive output.
”Ngayon ko lang po napagtanto na ang sinisisi pala ninyo sa racist na video na ito ay ako, at hindi pa rin ang China. Para sa inyo, ang caricature na ginamit ko sa isang classroom setting ang siyang pinakadahilan kung bakit nagkaroon ng racist na video. Mawalang galang na po, pero mali po ang argumento ninyo,” he said.
Defending his use of the Chinese leader’s image, Tarriela clarified that it was never meant to serve as a state-sponsored message.
”Una, wala po akong intensyong gamitin ang aking lecture bilang ‘wartime propaganda’—hindi ito sinadyang mailathala, ginawa ito sa loob ng isang unibersidad, at ito ay satire,” he said.
He noted that the controversy surrounding the caricature had already been settled months ago, accusing Padilla of reviving the dead issue to shield Beijing from criticism.
”Pangalawa, matagal nang nakapag-move on ang lahat sa isyung ito ng caricature noong January, pero kayo pa rin po ang gumagamit nito bilang convenient excuse para sa China,” Tarriela said.
Tarriela concluded by denying that he had launched any personal attacks against the legislator, reminding Padilla of their shared identity.
”Hindi po ako binabatan—HUWAG PO KAYONG MALITO. Kayo ang nagpangalan sa akin, at kayo rin po ang nagsabing mga unggoy tayong lahat. Remember your own line, Mr. Senator: ‘Aren’t we all monkeys of different colors?’ Hindi po tayo unggoy at hindi po ako ang kalaban dito dahil pareho po tayong Pilipino,” he added.
The latest friction marks another chapter in the public fallout between Padilla and Tarriela following the release of an AI-generated video by Chinese state-run media outlet China Daily. The clip, which referenced the 2016 South China Sea arbitral ruling, depicted Filipinos as monkeys.
Philippine authorities have strongly condemned the material as racist and have lodged formal diplomatic protests demanding its removal.