National Security Council Assistant Director General Jonathan Malaya during a press conference in this file photo taken on October 23, 2023 at the National Security Council office. INQUIRER.net file photo / NOY MORCOSO
MANILA, Philippines — There is no witch hunt for those with pro-China sentiments, according to National Security Council (NSC) Assistant Director General Jonathan Malaya on Monday.
Malaya had been asked for a comment about those accusing him of hunting down public individuals.
“May paratang laban sa akin na kami daw, ako daw personally ay gumagawa ng witch hunt dito sa mga grupong maka pro-China. And gusto ko lang liwanagin na wala po kami sa NSC na pinipigilan na tao na magpahayag ng kanilang saloobin. Iginagalang natin iyong freedom of expression, freedom of the press,” said Malaya on Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon.
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(There are accusations against us that I am personally leading a witch hunt here against pro-China groups. I just wanted to clarify that we in the NSC are not stopping anyone from expressing their opinions. We respect the freedom of expression, freedom of the press.)
According to Malaya, there is fake news circulating that the recent collision between Chinese and Philippine vessels in Ayungin shoal. The theory said that the collision was caused by the Philippine crew deliberately blocking the Chinese boats.
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“Ang ginagawa namin sa NSC ay ipinaparating namin sa taumbayan iyong katotohanan, iyon lamang. And ang sinabi ko noon is, we are just monitoring them at iyon naman ang mandato ng National Security Council, to monitor people who maybe following the narrative and agenda of a foreign power,” said Malaya.
(What the NSC does is inform people what the truth is, that is all. What I said before is we are just monitoring them and that is the mandate of the National Security Council, to monitor people who maybe following the narrative and agenda of a foreign power.)