𝗦𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗱 𝗢𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗯𝘆 𝗔𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗻 𝗙𝗲𝗿𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗠. 𝗖𝗮𝗯𝗮𝗹𝘂
FOUR Chinese nationals accused by the Philippine government of espionage led Chinese Communist Party-affiliated groups that made donations of cash and 15 motor vehicles to Tarlac City Mayor Cristy Angeles, according to an online report by multiple news sources.
Wang Yongyi, Wu Junren, Cai Shaohuang, and Chen Haitao were among five Chinese men detained by Philippine investigators in late January for allegedly gathering images and maps of Philippine naval forces near the South China Sea.
The five men had flown drones to spy on the Philippine Navy, said the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), adding that it had found photos and maps of sensitive sites and vessels on their phones.
The four men were leaders of civic groups overseen by the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) foreign influence network, according to reports.
Donations to Tarlac City
Wang, Wu and Cai made a financial donation to the City of Tarlac in the amount of P500,000 via the Chinese-backed groups in 2022 and continued to host officials at events through 2024.
According to a Reuters report, the financial donation was for “Poverty Alleviation Bursary”.
The Chinese group likewise donated 15 motor vehicles to the city government and both donations were received by Tarlac City Mayor Cristy Angeles in July of 2022.
Tarlac is home to major military bases, including one used by the Philippines and the United States for live-fire exercises during annual military drills. Photos of bases in the area were not among the sites that NBI said were found on the men’s devices.
All five detained men also met China’s military attaché in Manila, Senior Col. Li Jianzhong, at least once in the weeks before their arrest.
The ties revealed by Reuters go beyond public statements made by Philippines investigators, who have said the men disguised themselves as “harmless” members of a legitimate organization.
Sisterhood Pact with Tarlac City
In November 18 2022 a sisterhood signing between Tarlac City headed by Angeles and Zaozhuang City, China led by the Qiaoxing Volunteer Group titled, “Sharing the Future with Sister Cities” signed at the Executive Boardroom of the Tarlac City Hall.
As per the Facebook of the city government which was already taken down, one of the highlights of that conference was the sharing of trade information between Zaozhuang and the Philippines.
After the signing, Angeles extended her gratitude to the Zaozhuang City Government as she anticipates more activities that will bring about technological and economic exchange that can potentially lead to prosperity and at the same time further promote and vitalize both countries leading to mutual and lasting cooperation.
“In Tarlac City, we are writing the future moment to moment. One with us in looking forward to a broad-based and long-term partnership is Zaozhuang City of the Shandong province in the People’s Republic of China,” quoted Angeles in the Facebook post.
ACQ Dressing Plant
The brother-in-law of Wang Yongyi, Zeijang Qui alias “Aljon” was found to be the business partner of Mayor Cristy Angeles’ husband and Tarlac City mayoral candidate Vic Angeles.
Their business venture, listed under the name ACQ Dressing Plant Corporation as per documents from the Securities and Exchange Commission’s Certificate of Incorporation, listed Victor Manguerra Angeles, Bernard Consengco Concepcion and Zejiang Qui as incorporators.
ACQ, with its addressed located at Barangay Dolores in Tarlac City, was allegedly derived from the first letters of the incorporator’s surnames. Qui was listed as a Chinese citizen.
It was revealed that poultry farms are mandated by the city government to have all their chicken dressed at the ACQ dressing plant. Failure to do so will allegedly result in the cancellation of the poultry farm’s business permit.
Mounting Call For Gibo’s Action
As a result of the Chinese spies alleged ties with the Angeleses, there is now a mounting call for Defense Secretary Gilberto “Gibo” Teodoro Jr. to investigate the matter.
In a speaking engagement in Concepcion a few weeks ago, Teodoro was quoted as saying, “Hindi ako makapapayag na payagan ang mga nagtakip-mata, tumulong o naging kasabwat ng isang napakalaking sindikato na naging pugad ng mga kalaban ng bansa sa Bamban na manatili sa pwesto…hindi ako makakapayag.”
Teodoro is a three-term Congressman of the first district of Tarlac. He endorsed the candidacy of Mayor Cristy Angeles for second district congresswomen, Vic Angeles for Tarlac City Mayor including the couple’s councilor-daughter KT for Tarlac City Vice Mayor.
“We are waiting for the secretary’s action on this matter. It is not anymore about POGO as this already involves Chinese spies doing business with Tarlac city leaders,” a local analyst pointed-out.
