President Marcos has thrown his support behind the Department of Foreign Affairs' (DFA) condemnation of China Daily's AI-generated video depicting Filipinos as monkeys after personally viewing the controversial material, Malacañang said Monday, July 20.

In a press briefing, Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary Claire Castro said the President had watched the video and had been briefed by Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro and Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. on the government's response.

"Opo, napanood niya po 'to (Yes, he has seen it),” Castro said when asked if the President had seen the video.

“Nag-report naman din po si Secretary Tess Lazaro, si Secretary Gibo Teodoro at nakita na po natin kung ano pong mensahe ng mga ahensiya at ito po ay sinusuportahan po ng Pangulo (Secretary Tess Lazaro and Secretary Gibo Teodoro have also reported to him, and we have seen the statements issued by the agencies, and these are supported by the President),” she added.

The Palace Press Officer said the President shared the outrage expressed by Filipinos over the racist portrayal.

"Lahat ng Pilipino, hindi na natin kailangang makita kung anong reaksiyon ng Pangulo dahil kahit sinuman sa Pilipino, hindi magiging maganda ang pagtanggap, hindi matatanggap iyong ganoong paglalarawan sa mga Pilipino na bilang unggoy (All Filipinos no longer need to see the President's reaction because no Filipino would receive positively or accept such a depiction of Filipinos as monkeys),” Castro said.

“Siguro mayroon lang tayong ilang opisyal na tanggap na sila’y unggoy pero ang Pangulo ay hindi (Perhaps we have some officials who have accepted that they’re monkeys but the President does not),” she added.

Asked about Senator Risa Hontiveros' call for Malacañang to summon Chinese Ambassador Jing Quan, Castro said the administration was already taking action through the DFA.

"Ang ano po natin ay gumagawa na rin po ng aksiyon, si Secretary Tess Lazaro patungkol po diyan (The government is already taking action through Secretary Tess Lazaro on that matter),” she said.

Pressed on whether the President himself would summon the Chinese envoy, Castro replied, "Si Secretary Tess Lazaro na po 'yan (That is already under Secretary Tess Lazaro).”

The Palace statement came days after the DFA formally protested China Daily's publication of AI-generated videos and editorial cartoons portraying Filipinos in a racist and dehumanizing manner in connection with the 10th anniversary of the 2016 South China Sea Arbitral Award.

The DFA said Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Leo Herrera-Lim raised the issue directly with Chinese Ambassador Jing Quan on July 16 before Manila lodged a formal diplomatic protest demanding the immediate removal of the offensive materials, while the Philippine Embassy in Beijing separately conveyed the same demand to China Daily's editor-in-chief.

The controversy stemmed from a July 10 video posted by the Chinese state-owned media outlet showing a monkey dressed in a barong Tagalog and salakot while mocking the Philippines' legal victory in the landmark 2016 arbitral ruling that invalidated China's sweeping claims in the South China Sea.

The video has drawn condemnation across the Marcos administration, with Teodoro describing it as racist propaganda, Cabinet Secretary Benhur Abalos saying Filipinos deserve to be treated with dignity and respect, and Philippine Coast Guard spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Rear Admiral Jay Tarriela declaring that "Filipinos are not monkeys."

Foreign Affairs Secretary Lazaro is also expected to meet Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on the sidelines of the ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Manila this week, although ASEAN 2026 Philippines Spokesperson Dominic Xavier Imperial said he could not confirm whether the China Daily controversy would be among the issues to be discussed.