Senate OKs reso condemning Chinese embassy statements
At A Glance
- The Senate on Monday, February 9 finally approved and adopted the resolution condemning the statements made by the Chinese embassy in Manila which criticized Philippine officials and institutions for defending the country's national sovereignty.
The Senate on Monday, February 9 finally approved and adopted the resolution condemning the statements made by the Chinese embassy in Manila which criticized Philippine officials and institutions for defending the country’s national sovereignty.
Senate Resolution No. 256 specifically denounced the language used by a Chinese embassy official against Filipino officials who criticized China’s aggressive actions in the West Philippine Sea.
The resolution, which was authored by Sen. Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan, also affirmed the right of the Philippine government to assert its sovereign right and responsibility to present, assert and defend its official positions and national interests in accordance with international law.
But prior to its approval, Pangilinan clashed with Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano, who argued that Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, Commodore Jay Tarriela’s use of a caricature depicting Chinese President Xi Jinping was wrong.
“We cannot pass this resolution saying that Commodore Tarriela is correct because he’s wrong,” Cayetano said during his interpellation.
“If he simply stated, ‘I love the Philippines, I will fight for our territory, I’ll fight for our sovereign rights, I will do my duty—but sorry, dahil uminit ang ulo ko, nilabas ko ‘to, pero hindi official ‘yan,’ tapos tayo (because I got mad, I released this, but that is not official’, then we have nothing to argue about),” the minority leader pointed out.
But Pangilinan disagreed and defended Tarriela saying that it is acceptable.
“If officials of the President are expected to observe decorum toward the President of China, it is supposedly acceptable for a general not to follow. What he is saying is that it is acceptable to insult the President of another country,” Pangilinan explained.
Moreover, Pangilinan said the Department of National Defense (DND) has also issued a statement condemning China’s remarks.
After nearly three hours of debate, the Senate then amended the proposed resolution which was earlier signed by 15 senators, most of them from the Majority bloc.
After the period of amendments, Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri moved for the adoption of the resolution, which Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III then approved after no senator made an objection.
The same resolution also calls on the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to take the necessary diplomatic measures to uphold the dignity of the Philippines and ensure that relations with other states are conducted in accordance with international law and established principles of state relations.