Senate eyes reso urging Palace to declare Chinese diplomats persona non grata—Erwin Tulfo

Some senators are considering filing a resolution that would recommend President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. declare certain Chinese Embassy officials persona non grata, Senator Erwin Tulfo said Wednesday.

The move comes amid a heated exchange between the Chinese Embassy and Philippine government officials over Beijing’s aggressive actions in the West Philippine Sea.

In a Super Radyo dzBB interview, Tulfo clarified that the Senate itself does not have the authority to declare a foreign diplomat persona non grata.

“The Senate has no such authority. That issue was raised, but it turns out only the President can declare a diplomat persona non grata,” Tulfo said.

“What we can do, and what we are contemplating, is to discuss filing a resolution declaring them persona non grata and recommending it to the Palace so the President can take action,” he added.

On Tuesday, Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III floated the possibility of declaring Chinese Embassy deputy spokesperson Guo Wei persona non grata.

However, Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” Lacson interjected, stressing that only the head of state may make such a declaration.

The issue arose following a proposal by Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano to conduct a committee hearing on the exchange of statements between the Chinese Embassy and Philippine officials, including Philippine Coast Guard spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Commodore Jay Tarriela.

Cayetano said an inquiry is necessary before the Senate proceeds with plenary deliberations on a proposed resolution—signed by 15 senators—denouncing the recent statements issued by the Chinese Embassy in Manila against certain Filipino officials.

Senator Risa Hontiveros, meanwhile, expressed hope that the resolution would be adopted by the Senate after interpellation during Wednesday afternoon’s session.

“We will interpellate this in the plenary this afternoon, and the 24-hour period is sufficient for us to approve it today. The issue involved in this resolution is very clear,” Hontiveros said in a separate dzBB interview.

GMA News Online has reached to the Chinese embassy in Manila for comment and will update this story once it issues a response.—MCG, GMA Integrated News