Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. on Thursday hit back at the Chinese Embassy, accusing it of acting as a public relations firm for businessman Yang Jianxin, more commonly known as Tony Yang or Antonio Maestrado Lim.

“The Chinese Embassy is now a PR firm for Tony Yang and other illegal activities in this Country which are apparently their clients. From their public statements in the past days it is obvious that they are covering up for these people. The public is aware of their role which is now obvious,” Teodoro said in a statement sent to DAILY TRIBUNE.

Yang, the brother of former presidential economic adviser Michael Yang, has been linked by authorities to a manufacturing plant in Misamis Oriental accused of producing substandard steel.

According to the National Bureau of Investigation, authorities raided a plant owned by Philippine Sanjia Steel Corp. in Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental, over allegedly substandard steel, resulting in the arrest of 69 Chinese nationals and one Filipino who were allegedly involved in its operations.

“Kailangan kundenahin ito ng ating mga mamamayan. Sa lahat ng Embahada kailanman dito sa Pilipinas nagayon lang tayo nakakakita ng ganitong klaseng pagmamalabis. Kailangan nating ipakita na hindi tayo papayag dito!” Teodoro said.

“Mabuhay ang Pilipinas. ‘Di tayo pasisiil!” he added.

Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission Executive Director Undersecretary Benjamin Acorda, meanwhile, said the Chinese Embassy’s remarks showed a “clear disregard for diplomatic decorum and the sovereign laws of the Philippines.”

“As diplomatic representatives hosted by our nation, lecturing host authorities on lawful domestic operations is inappropriate. We challenge the Embassy to allow the same open public dialogue on Chinese social media platforms so that the Chinese people can be informed of the full, transparent facts,” Acorda said.

He stressed that the operation against Sanjia Steel was an inter-agency law enforcement operation and was not directed against any nationality.

“The agencies involved acted according to their respective mandates, while the Armed Forces of the Philippines provided security and logistical support. Its participation should not be misconstrued as a military operation against Chinese workers,” Acorda said.

He added that differences in the treatment of individuals involved were based on their circumstances and compliance with Philippine immigration and labor laws, not their nationality.

“Arrest or investigation does not mean guilt, and no person, Filipino or foreign, is presumed guilty simply because of citizenship. Any determination on charges, detention, or release remains subject to the proper legal process,” Acorda said.

He said the investigation was not limited to workers and that authorities would pursue owners, officers, managers or other responsible individuals if evidence established their liability.

“It is therefore inaccurate to characterize the operation as selective enforcement against Chinese nationals. For PAOCC and its partner agencies, this is purely a matter of law enforcement. No nationality is being targeted. The rule of law, individual rights, and due process remain paramount at all times,” Acorda said.