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MANILA, Philippines — The Senate is studying whether Chinese embassy officials can be declared persona non grata amid a pushback by 15 senators over their criticism of Philippine officials who issued statements defending the country’s position on the West Philippine Sea.
The discussion arose during Sen. Francis Pangilinan’s sponsorship of a resolution signed by 15 senators condemning Chinese embassy officials for issuing derogatory statements against certain Philippine officials and politicians.
Senate President Vicente Sotto III suggested that, apart from studying the resolution, the Senate – through its committee on rules – may also look into the possibility of declaring Chinese embassy officials persona non grata.
“Yes, we will perhaps be studying the resolution, but in the same light, I suggest that we study the possibility of declaring that person persona non grata and that is very very serious when the Senate does that. I suggest that the committee on rules study the possibility,” he said during session yesterday.
Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson, however, reminded his colleagues that under diplomatic practice, only the head of state may declare a foreign diplomat persona non grata and that the Senate may only recommend such action.
“But we cannot declare any diplomat persona non grata,” Lacson said, adding that the matter would still need validation by Senate lawyers.
Sotto clarified that the idea was merely a suggestion and reiterated that it should be studied first.
Pangilinan said that should the Senate leadership later decide to file a resolution expressing the sense of the Senate that the President declare the Chinese embassy officials persona non grata, he and other senators will support it.
Pangilinan was referring to colleagues who signed the resolution he sponsored – Sotto, Lacson, Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri, Senators Erwin Tulfo, Risa Hontiveros, Raffy Tulfo, Sherwin Gatchalian, Loren Legarda, JV Ejercito, Bam Aquino, Camille Villar, Mark Villar, Lito Lapid and Jinggoy Estrada.
The senators who did not sign were all from the minority bloc: Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano, Deputy Minority Leaders Rodante Marcoleta and Joel Villanueva; Senators Francis Escudero, Imee Marcos, Ronald dela Rosa, Robin Padilla and Bong Go.
Sen. Pia Cayetano, a member of the majority, also did not sign the resolution.
Resolution for further review
Plenary action on the resolution, however, was later suspended after Alan Peter Cayetano called for the matter to be referred to a committee for further review.
In a letter dated Jan. 27 addressed to Sotto, Cayetano said the resolution was not included in the weekly agenda and was circulated primarily among members of the majority bloc, limiting the minority’s opportunity to review and study the measure.
He also stressed that issues affecting foreign relations require careful examination, particularly amid heightened maritime tensions.
Cayetano said a committee hearing would allow officials from the Department of Foreign Affairs and experts in diplomacy to present context, explain ongoing engagements and outline possible consequences of various policy responses.
Sotto said the request was reasonable, noting that while Senate resolutions are often adopted on the same day they are sponsored, controversial measures are sometimes deferred for further deliberation.
Upon motion by Zubiri, the Senate suspended consideration of the resolution, with no objection raised.
Pangilinan later clarified that the absence of some senators’ signatures on the resolution should not be construed as opposition, emphasizing that support would ultimately be determined when the measure is put to a vote.
Tougher action
Meanwhile, House Deputy Minority Leader and ML party-list Rep. Leila de Lima filed a resolution yesterday urging the government to take stronger actions against the Chinese embassy for issuing derogatory statements against Philippine officials critical of Beijing’s position on the West Philippine Sea.
In filing House Resolution (HR) No. 680, De Lima and the other signatories to the measure have called on the executive branch, particularly the DFA, to take bolder diplomatic initiatives, including the filing of diplomatic protests.
“They have no right to vilify, insult and dishonor our officials. We cannot stay silent while they are spreading lies about us. Like how we defend the West Philippine Sea, we must counter and defend our officials who only defend the truth and what we deserve for the dignity of our country,” De Lima said.
“We saw that the DFA has issued a statement about this issue, but we believe that the government’s answer to these must be stronger and bold,” she added.
Signatories to HR 680 include Reps. Edgar Erice (2nd District, Caloocan City), Adrian Michael Amatong (3rd District, Zamboanga del Norte), Kaka Bag-ao (Lone District, Dinagat Islands), Jaime Fresnedi (Lone District, Muntinlupa City), Cielo Lagman (1st District, Albay), Alfonso Umali Jr. (2nd District, Oriental Mindoro) and Akbayan party-list Reps. Chel Diokno, Percival Cendaña and Dadah Kiram Ismula.
“The Chinese embassy has repeatedly issued public statements and social media posts directed at Philippine officials that employ discourteous, disparaging and inflammatory language, including personal attacks on the competence and integrity of Philippine public servants, insinuations that they are ‘embarrassing’ themselves and threats couched as warnings to ‘stop or pay the price,’ which go beyond legitimate articulation of a foreign state’s position and constitute an unacceptable departure from the restraint, civility and mutual respect expected of diplomatic missions,” the resolution read.
Last month, the Chinese embassy, through its deputy spokesman Guo Wei, issued a series of public statements and social media posts disputing Philippine positions on navigation rights, archipelagic sea lanes passage, the scope of exclusive economic zone entitlements and the legality of the 2016 Arbitral Award.
Philippines-US exercise
For the first time this year and the 11th since joint naval drills between the two allied nations began, the Philippine Navy joined the US Indo-Pacific Command (USINDOPACOM) in a two-day exercise in the West Philippine Sea.
The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) also joined the event held from Jan 25 to 26 in waters near Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal or Bajo de Masinloc. — Jose Rodel Clapano, Michael Punongbayan
