Tarlac City Mayor Ma. Cristina Angeles is under scrutiny after accepting a P500,000 cash donation and 15 motorcycles from Chinese nationals suspected of ties to Chinese Communist Party (CCP) espionage activities. The Tarlac City Council did not authorize her to accept these donations, according to Vice Mayor Genaro Mendoza.
Mendoza stated that Angeles did not seek council approval, and council secretary Ma. Theresa Pangilinan found no record of any such authorization. A 2022 report showed a CCP-led group handing a check to Angeles, but she confirmed receiving the motorcycles “in good faith,” intended for local police and the provincial government. However, former Rep. Victor Yap claimed the provincial government didn’t receive its share.
Angeles also acknowledged a P100,000 donation and a 2023 P200,000 donation, citing Council Resolution No. IX-33-486. She said the funds were spent on educational dental kits for school children.
Mendoza has urged Angeles to clarify the situation, emphasizing transparency and accountability. Meanwhile, the controversy surrounds a broader issue, following recent reports of Chinese nationals involved in surveillance activities in the Philippines. Four Chinese nationals arrested for allegedly gathering sensitive military information have raised concerns about espionage and foreign influence operations in the country.
The Philippine government continues to investigate the involvement of Chinese nationals in espionage and its implications for national security.
