Malacañang said there are no current plans to summon Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian amid reports of alleged Chinese interference in the upcoming 2025 midterm elections.
No plans yet to summon Chinese envoy over alleged election interference — Palace
In a press briefing on Monday, April 28, Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said there was no order yet for the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to summon the Chinese envoy.
"Sa ngayon po, wala pa po tayong nadidinig na anumang pag-uutos patungkol po dyan (As of now, we have not yet heard of any directive regarding that matter)," she said.
The Palace Press Officer, however, stressed that a deeper investigation is necessary, given the seriousness of the allegations.
"Minararapat po talaga na magkaroon po ng malalimang pag-iimbestiga patungkol po dito, lalong-lalo na po kung ito naman ay may kinalaman na rin sa seguridad ng bansa (It is really necessary to conduct a deeper investigation, especially if it concerns the security of the country)," she said.
Last week, Castro said the Palace considers the allegations alarming.
"Ito po ay talagang nakakaalarma at paiigtingin pa po natin ang—sa utos na rin po ng ating administrasyon na imbestigahan nang malalim para malaman po natin kung anuman ang katotohanan patungkol po dito (This is truly alarming, and we will intensify—upon the order of the administration—a deeper investigation to determine the truth behind this)," she said.
The National Security Council (NSC) earlier disclosed that there were indicators of possible Chinese attempts to interfere with the Philippine elections.
The Palace has yet to provide a timeline for when the initial findings of the investigation will be released.
China has denied allegations that it is interfering with the country's elections.