Senate President Vicente Sotto III expressed concern over some senators’ apparent pro-China stance amid Beijing’s aggressive actions against Filipino vessels in the West Philippine Sea.
The controversy arose after several senators reportedly blocked Senate Resolution 256, which condemned verbal attacks by the Chinese embassy on Filipino officials.
Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson acknowledged that some senators may have avoided signing the resolution to maintain diplomatic ties, but criticized those showing bias while Filipinos faced harassment at sea.
Meanwhile, Sen. Erwin Tulfo, set to chair the Senate foreign relations committee, emphasized a “friends to all, enemies to none” policy and called for peaceful coexistence with China.
The dispute highlights tensions between asserting national interests and maintaining diplomacy, with lawmakers divided over the Senate’s response to Beijing’s provocations.
Source: PhilNews24 | February 1, 2026
SOTTO VOICES CONCERN OVER OFFICIALS’ PRO-CHINA LEANINGS
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