Malacañang said Friday the allegations that organizations linked to Vice President Sara Duterte received funds from China should be investigated if supported by sufficient evidence.

This came after former senator Antonio Trillanes IV claimed that the Tapang at Malasakit Alliance for the Philippines, Inc., a Davao City-based nonprofit founded by Duterte, received PHP150 million from the Chinese Embassy for the construction of 13 classrooms.

“Kung sapat ang ebidensya, hindi ito dapat isawalang bahala (If there is sufficient evidence, this should not be ignored),” Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said in a statement.

“Walang paghuhusga sa ngayon ang administrasyon, ngunit dapat malaman ito ng mga kababayan natin kung may sapat naman na ebidensya (There is no judgment from the administration at this time, but our fellow citizens should be made aware of this if there is sufficient evidence).”

Trillanes also claimed that Cale88 Foods Corp, a food company owned by Duterte’s husband, lawyer Manases Carpio, received more than PHP319 million from China.

Castro said Filipinos, especially if they are public officials, could be considered “traitors” if they were found to be “selling” the country’s freedom to foreign entities.

She also suggested that some officials may have remained silent on China’s harassment of Filipino fisherfolk in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) because of money.

“Kaya pala tahimik sa mga karahasang natatanggap ng iba nating mangingisda sa kamay ng mga dayuhan at ang iba naman ay handang ipamigay ang parte ng ating teritoryo o karapatan sa WPS ay dahil natatapalan ng pera ang kanilang mga mata para talikuran ang pagmamahal sa sariling bayan at ibenta ang ating kalayaan (They remain silent about the violence being inflicted on some of our fisherfolk by foreigners, while others are willing to give away part of our territory or rights in the WPS because they are blinded by money, causing them to turn their backs on their love for their own country and sell our freedom),” Castro said.

She said such acts should not be tolerated.

“Ang mga kumukunsinte sa ganitong gawain ay dapat na kalusin hindi bukas… kundi ngayon! Huwag natin hayaan ang ibang opisyal pa natin ang siyang dudurog sa sarili nating bansa. Gumising tayong lahat (Those who tolerate this kind of conduct should be dealt with – not tomorrow, but now! Let us not allow our own officials to be the ones to destroy our country. Let us all wake up),” she said. (PNA)