Manila: Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) Commodore Jay Tarriela on Monday slammed the 'brazen and abrasive' statements released by the Chinese Embassy in Manila against Philippine elected officials. In a statement, Tarriela, the PCG spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea (WPS), said the embassy's statements were 'blatant disrespect against Philippine elected officials in our own soil.'
According to Philippines News Agency, Tarriela emphasized that the attack on sitting Senators by foreign diplomats is not merely an assault on the Senate as a democratic institution, but a direct challenge to Philippine sovereignty and the Filipino people as a whole. The statement was in response to several social media posts and statements made by Chinese Embassy Deputy Spokesperson Guo Wei against him and several sitting elected officials, including Senators Risa Hontiveros, Erwin Tulfo, and Kiko Pangilinan, among others.
Guo Wei has since responded to Tarriela, questioning whether he was representing Filipinos and criticized other statements made by government officials in support of Tarriela as 'helpers.' "Can't win the argument, so you call in helpers? When that fails, you fan the flames? Before posting, get one thing straight: every time you speak up, who's attacking, and who's defending? A factual response isn't 'disrespect,' let alone 'assault.' If you invoke the freedom to attack, we have the right to defend," Guo said.
In a separate development, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has expressed 'serious concerns' to the Chinese ambassador regarding the escalation of public exchanges. They reiterated their support for Philippine officials to perform their lawful duties in defense of the country's sovereignty, sovereign rights, and jurisdiction. The DFA highlighted the importance of maintaining a robust plurality of ideas within a democratic society.
Additionally, Assistant Director General Cornelio Valencia Jr., National Security Council spokesperson, criticized the recent pattern of public statements made by the Chinese embassy as 'undiplomatic and uncalled for.' Valencia stressed that the Philippines is a democracy governed by the rule of law and that public officials have a responsibility to inform the Filipino people of developments affecting national security, including activities in the West Philippine Sea, without requiring approval from any foreign government.
