Senator Robin Padilla accused Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) spokesperson Jay Tarriela of escalating a 'wartime propaganda' conflict after a viral video from Chinese state media portrayed Filipinos as monkeys.In a Facebook post, Padilla criticized Tarriela for initiating the feud, calling the situation a 'genius creation' of propaganda.

He also addressed China Daily's AI-generated video depicting Filipinos as apes, questioning racial stereotypes about Filipinos being 'monkeys' in the eyes of Western colonizers.Tarriela denied the claims, stating the PCG was exposing Chinese aggression against Filipino fisherfolk and defending its actions.He criticized Padilla for accepting the derogatory remark, emphasizing that over 26 million Filipinos voted for him.Philippine officials condemned China Daily's AI video as a racist attack, with many calling it offensive.

The incident highlights tensions between the Philippines and China over territorial disputes in the West Philippine Sea, while also reflecting domestic political clashes between lawmakers and government agencies.