Hontiveros to DFA: Don’t let foreign missions disrespect PH officials

Senate Deputy Majority Leader Risa Hontiveros —NIÑO JESUS ORBETA/INQUIRER

Senate Deputy Majority Leader Risa Hontiveros has asked the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to act on the Chinese Embassy’s public attack against government officials defending the country’s position on the West Philippine Sea (WPS) issue.

In a letter dated Jan. 19 addressed to Foreign Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro, the senator particularly sought clarification on what the DFA intends to do to ensure that foreign diplomatic missions in the Philippines respect the limits of diplomatic conduct and refrain from targeting Filipino officials.

“China is already disrespecting our seas, and now it is also disrespecting our officials. We must not allow the Chinese Embassy—or any embassy, for that matter—to disrespect public servants who are simply defending what is rightfully ours. I expect the DFA to take this matter seriously,” Hontiveros said.

The Chinese Embassy in Manila earlier filed a diplomatic protest against Commodore Jay Tarriela, Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) spokesperson for the WPS, for allegedly smearing Chinese President Xi Jinping’s “dignity.”

This was after Tarriela posted a photo of himself during a dialogue with students. Behind him was a TV screen showing an image collage featuring what seemed to be AI-generated pictures of Xi. They showed Xi fuming in anger, flexing his muscles, and holding a wooden boat with a Philippine flag.

According to Hontiveros, the Philippine foreign service has consistently upheld the principle that disputes between states should be addressed through established diplomatic channels, not through public pressure campaigns directed at individual officials.

Foreign interference

She said that allowing such actions to pass without response risks normalizing foreign interference and undermining the dignity of Philippine institutions, as well as the safety of those tasked with defending the country’s national interests.

“The Chinese Embassy is acting like a victim. It is their country that fires water cannons at our personnel, threatens our fisherfolk, and destroys our marine environment. We, Filipino public servants, will continue to speak the truth—and if that hurts their fragile egos, so be it,” she said.