VERA Files
A YouTube video falsely insinuated in its headline that Chinese ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian will be sent back to China. This is misleading.
The video in question, posted on May 10, bore this headline:
“PINAS LUMALABAN NA, CHINESE AMBASSADOR PAUUWIIN NA SA CHINA, DND SECRETARY BINALAAN ANG CHINESE EMBASSY (Philippines now fighting back, Chinese Ambassador to be sent back to China, [Department of National Defense] Secretary warned the Chinese Embassy).”
Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro did say those responsible for recording an alleged conversation between a Chinese diplomat and a Filipino military official about a supposed arrangement in Ayungin Shoal should be removed from the Philippines.
However, he did not threaten to kick Huang out of the country.
“May pahayag ang Chinese Embassy sa Pilipinas na meron kunong alleged recording sa isang kawani ng Armed Forces of the Philippines – the authenticity of which I doubt… dapat alamin kung sino ang responsable dito at alisin sa Republika ng Pilipinas,” Teodoro said during a May 8 ambush interview.
(There’s a statement from the Chinese Embassy where there’s an alleged recording of a member of the Armed Forces of the Philippines – the authenticity of which I doubt… whoever’s responsible for this should be identified and removed from the Republic of the Philippines.)
The misleading video garnered 171,181 views, 2,268 comments, and 6,400 likes on YouTube.
It appeared after the Chinese Embassy claimed to have a recording between an unnamed Chinese diplomat and Armed Forces of the Philippines Western Command (AFP WESCOM) head Vice Adm. Alberto Carlos about alleged new arrangements for resupply missions in Ayungin Shoal. Carlos went on leave following the controversy and has since been removed from his post.
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