President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is supporting the administration’s management of the fallout over an AI-generated video from a Chinese state media outlet that portrayed Filipinos as monkeys, with Malacañang noting that the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) will oversee any potential diplomatic actions.
Communications Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro confirmed during a Monday press briefing that the Chief Executive has watched the offensive material published by China Daily.
She noted that Marcos has already been updated on the situation by Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro and Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr.
Castro minimized the need to guess the President’s private emotions regarding the matter, pointing out that no Filipino would tolerate such a depiction.
“Lahat ng Pilipino, hindi na natin kailangang makita kung anong reaksiyon ng Pangulo dahil kahit sinuman sa Pilipino, hindi magiging maganda ang pagtanggap, hindi matatarsgap iyong ganoong paglalarawan sa mga Pilipino na bilang unggoy,” she said.
“Siguro mayroon lang tayong ilang opisyal na tanggap na sila’y unggoy pero ang Pangulo ay hindi.”
The Palace spokesperson issued these comments following a demand from Senator Risa Hontiveros for Malacañang to recall the Chinese ambassador to explain the incident.
However, Castro clarified that the power to initiate diplomatic measures rests with the DFA and Secretary Lazaro.
“Si Secretary Tess Lazaro na po iyan,” she said when asked if the President would personally direct the summoning of the Chinese envoy.
The uproar began when China Daily distributed editorial artwork and AI-produced video clips relating to the 2016 South China Sea arbitral ruling that characterized Filipinos as monkeys. The propaganda rapidly drew intense blowback from online users and state authorities alike.
In a swift rejoinder, the DFA lambasted the media pieces for being “blatantly demeaning, dehumanizing, and racist,” underscoring that geopolitical disagreements must not be used to violate human dignity. The agency demanded that the posts be taken down immediately and pressed Beijing to maintain “dignity, respect, and truth” in its messaging.
Meanwhile, Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. took aim at the content, framing it as a clear sign of the “moral and intellectual bankruptcy” of the Chinese Communist Party.
Teodoro pointed out that the derogatory incident validates Manila’s choice to put high-level ministerial discussions and military interactions with Chinese state entities on hold. He maintained that this recent campaign of “dehumanization” proves Beijing is “neither a secure and confident actor nor a trustworthy neighbor.”
The debacle has also drawn condemnation from various legislators, who used the opportunity to reiterate their demands for a more assertive and autonomous foreign policy amid ongoing friction in the West Philippine Sea.