MANILA — Malacañang has cautioned officials against making hasty decisions amid escalating word wars between the Chinese Embassy and Philippine lawmakers, emphasizing the need to protect Filipinos residing in China.
Communications Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro stated during a press briefing that while public anger over the issue involving Chinese Ambassador Jing Quan is understandable, cooler heads must prevail to prevent hasty policy missteps.
Lawmakers have recently ramped up calls to declare the Chinese diplomat persona non grata, which prompted the Chinese Embassy to retaliate by declaring several Philippine legislators unwelcome in China.
Despite the friction, Castro assured the public that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. remains steadfast in defending national sovereignty and the welfare of overseas Filipinos.
”Minsan kapag mainit ang ulo mo, minsan hindi ka nakakapag-isip nang maayos although valid ang nararamdaman natin. Mayroon tayong mga kababayan din sa bansang Tsina na dapat din nating protektahan,” Castro said.
”Hindi nagba-back out, hindi nag-aabandona ang ating Pangulo sa karapatan natin. Kung ano at kung paano ito ipapatupad para mas maprotektahan ang ating bansa, ito po ay pag-uusapan, hindi dapat magpadalos-dalos ng anumang desisyon,” she added.
Furthermore, the Palace official urged the public not to be distracted by the intensifying diplomatic row, pointing out that critical domestic controversies—such as the alleged flow of Chinese-linked funds to the Vice President—deserve equal scrutiny.
Castro left it to the public to evaluate whether the current diplomatic noise serves as a smokescreen to obscure local investigations.
”Kayo ang humusga. Ang nais ko lamang may mga issue pang dapat ding kaharapin. Kaya hindi tayo dapat magpabulag din sa ingay na nagaganap ngayon. Totoo naman na mayroong maingay at kailangan din tayong sumagot para sa ating kapakanan, sa kapakanan ng bansa. Pero may mga issues na dapat ding kaharapin at mukhang napagtatakpan,” Castro stressed.