Senator Erwin Tulfo said he intends to adopt President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s “friend to all, enemy to none” policy once he assumes the chairmanship of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations.
Tulfo made the remark in a radio interview on Saturday following confirmation that Senator Imee Marcos would be replaced as committee chair by next week’s plenary session.
His statement came after he earlier criticized the Chinese Embassy in Manila over issues in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).
Responding to questions about China, Tulfo said dialogue remains possible despite differences.
“Sabi ko eh kung gusto nila makipag-uusap, wala namang problema tayo doon, kausapin lang natin. Pero siyempre may mga hinihingi tayo…Ano pa ang saysay na sasabihin nating ‘friends to all, enemies to none’ eh, kung yung isang bansa na yan, hindi natin kakausapin.”
Tulfo’s comments followed a statement by Chinese Embassy Manila Deputy Spokesperson Guo Wei, who said freedom of speech should not be used to smear other countries’ leaders.
Earlier, Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III clarified that the decision to replace Senator Imee Marcos had nothing to do with her not signing a Senate resolution condemning the Chinese Embassy’s remarks.
“I can only speak for myself. I cannot speak for the other members if they thought of that when we discussed it last Monday in the majority caucus. I can only speak for myself. Sa akin hindi. It has nothing to do with that.”
Sotto said the committee leadership was reassigned after the majority bloc decided it should be handled by one of its members, citing pending treaties and agreements that require close attention.
“Eh nung una hindi naman namin ginalaw yun, originally na kay Sen Imee Marcos yan, hinayaan namin thinking that later on pwede naman kami magkasama-sama. But apparently things didn’t work out that way,” he said.
“Mayroong mga mga treaties at agreements na nakapending doon na malaki ang concern ng mga members of majority. So we discussed it, and we decided that we should give it to a member of the majority,” he added.
Fifteen senators signed Senate Resolution No. 256, which affirms the sovereign right and duty of Philippine officials to speak on matters of national interest in the performance of their official functions.