Senator Kiko Pangilinan on Monday expressed hesitation over the supposed invitation of Chinese envoy Jing Quan to legislators, saying it was difficult to trust given his nearly two decades of experience in the Senate.
“Nauunawaan natin ang mungkahi ni Sen. Ping (Lacson). Ayaw natin ng dagdag pa na tensyon pero depende ito lahat sa response ng China sa nasabing mungkahi. Kung totoong sinsero ba ang China embassy sa dialogo o hindi? Mahirap silang pagkatiwalaan,” Pangilinan said in a message to reporters.
“Sa apat na termino ko bilang Senador at loob ng mahigit na dalawang dekada, ngayon ko lang naranasan ang pambabastos ng embahada ng China sa ating mga opisyal ng gobyerno at sa ating mga institusyon,” he added.
His remarks followed Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” Lacson’s call for dialogue after the Chinese ambassador’s invitation amid a heated exchange between Filipino officials and the Beijing embassy.
“Pleasant surprise na nagsabi ‘yong ambassador ng China sa Pilipinas na let’s talk. That’s a breath of fresh air. I think that’s a good opening para ‘yon na ‘yong tahakin namin,” Lacson said in a radio interview.
The dispute escalated after the Senate adopted a resolution censuring the Chinese Embassy’s statements against Filipino officials who defended the Philippines’ position on the West Philippine Sea.
The embassy condemned the resolution, calling it “anti-China” and a “political stunt,” which drew sharp reactions from lawmakers including Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III.
The embassy also claimed legislators “know little about how diplomacy works,” a remark Pangilinan criticized.
“Kung ‘le-lektyuran’ lang nila ang mga Senador tungkol sa diplomasya eh huwag nalang at maghanap nalang sila ng ibang kausap,” he said, noting he authored the resolution.
No exact date has been set for the proposed dialogue between senators and the Chinese Embassy.