Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III on Tuesday rejected accusations from the Chinese Embassy that Filipino senators used “threats and intimidation” following the adoption of a resolution condemning Beijing’s remarks against Philippine officials.
“It seems like the spokesperson of the Chinese Embassy in the Philippines wanted to silence this august chamber by calling us hypocrites and ignorant by issuing our stand through this resolution,” Sotto said.
He stressed that the embassy itself had spoken disrespectfully of the Senate, labeling the resolution a “political stunt.”
“He is claiming that we are intimidating Chinese diplomats yet he continues to speak disrespectfully against us and calling the Senate resolution a mere political stunt. I can say the same thing to him, that he knows little about how diplomacy works. Respect begets respect,” Sotto added.
The resolution, principally authored by Senator Kiko Pangilinan, censured the embassy for its remarks about Philippine officials critical of Beijing’s actions in the West Philippine Sea. It was adopted Monday night despite opposition from the Senate minority bloc.