Senate minority urges probe into row between China and PH officials

Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano on Tuesday proposed a committee hearing on the heated exchanges between the Chinese Embassy and Philippine government officials.

The Senate was supposed to adopt in the plenary session on Tuesday afternoon a proposed resolution condemning recent statements issued by the Chinese Embassy on Filipino officials who criticized Beijing’s aggressive actions in the West Philippine Sea. 

The proposed resolution received the backing of 15 senators.

“Mr. President, napaka-importante nung resolution na ‘to, hindi lang dahil sa issues sa West Philippine Sea, but also because of many other issues, our economic ties, people-to-people ties, and our OFWs in Hong Kong, in mainland China, and in Macau,” Cayetano said in his manifestation.

(Mr. President, this resolution is very important, not only because of the issues in the West Philippine Sea, but also because of many other issues, our economic ties, people-to-people ties, and our OFWs in Hong Kong, in mainland China, and in Macau.) 

“That's why the minority, through myself, wrote a letter to the majority leader and yourself for your consideration po, na rather than adopting the resolution, we call a committee hearing. I think napakalalim po ng issue na ‘to and it will be good for us and the public na malaman talaga natin kung anong talagang sinabi ni Commodore Tarriela at ano ‘yung palitan ng kuro-kuro,” he added. 

(That's why the minority, through myself, wrote a letter to the majority leader and yourself for your consideration, that rather than adopting the resolution, we call a committee hearing. I think this issue is very deep and it will be good for us and the public to know what Commodore Tarriela really said and what the exchange was all about.) 

Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III, in response, said that Cayetano’s recommendation would be seriously considered. 

“Just for the record, we have indeed made it a practice that when a bill is sponsored, we give it time for interpellation, a day or two thereafter. In the case of resolutions, usually we pass it the same day or after sponsorship. But in case of controversial resolutions or bills, we do give it some time. So I think the request is quite in order,” Sotto said.

In Senate Resolution No. 256, the lawmakers called on the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to take the necessary diplomatic measures to uphold the dignity of the Philippines and to ensure that relations with other states are conducted in accordance with international law and established principles of state relations. 

The senators condemned the recent public statements issued by the Chinese Embassy, which they described as “contrary to accepted standards of diplomatic conduct and mutual respect between states.”

They also affirmed that the Philippines has the sovereign right and responsibility to present, assert, and defend its officials positions and national interests, in accordance with international law. 

In his sponsorship speech, Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan said that the statements of the Chinese Embassy have crossed a line “from legitimate expression of a foreign state’s views into interference in our domestic democratic debate.”

“By adopting this resolution, the Senate tells China and the world that this institution will not be cowed, that this institution will defend our nation’s sovereignty, that this institution will defend and uphold our Constitution as we swore to defend and uphold the Constitution, that we stand as one in saying: No foreign mission may dictate what Filipino senators can or cannot say in the lawful performance of their official duties,” he said. 

Persona non grata

Senator JV Ejercito, in his co-sponsorship speech, said that Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Jing Quan should be replaced due to the embassy's statements against Filipino officials, particularly Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Commodore Jay Tarriela. 

“Kung ganito po ay dapat siguro ay–hindi pa naman natin idedeklarang persona non grata–pero kung ganito ay sana ay palitan po siya dahil hindi nakakatulong sa tensyonado nang sitwasyon ng ating bansa,” Ejercito said. 

(If this is the case, not that we want to declare him persona non grata - but maybe he should be replaced because it does not help the already tense situation between our countries.) 

“Ang ambassador sana po ay dinadaan sa diplomasya para maayos, maging maganda ang relasyon ng Tsina at Pilipinas pero kung ganito po ang pag-uugali at karakter ng bagong ambassador ay hindi po makakatulong sa relasyon ng Tsina at Pilipinas,” he added. 

(I hope the ambassador will be diplomatic so that the relationship between China and the Philippines will be good, but if this is the behavior and character of the new ambassador, it will not help the relationship between China and the Philippines.)

Sotto, meanwhile, floated the possibility of declaring Chinese Embassy deputy spokesperson Guo Wei persona non grata. 

The Senate President suggested that the Committee on Rules study the matter.

“Yes, we will be perhaps 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,” Sotto said. 

Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” Lacson then interjected, saying that only the head of state may declare a diplomat persona non grata. —VBL, GMA Integrated News