DFA summons Chinese envoy over ban on Tolentino
This was disclosed by Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro on Tuesday's briefing.
Castro read a statement of DFA Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro, stating that the ''punitive'' measure of China was inconsistent with the norms of mutual respect and dialogue.
To recall, China imposed sanctions against Tolentino by banning him from entering its mainland, Hong Kong, and Macao due to his alleged 'egregious conduct' on China-related issues.
The Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson made the announcement a day after Tolentino's term as Philippine senator ended.
The spokesperson stressed that the Chinese government would defend national sovereignty, security, and development interests despite remarks from so-called anti-China politicians from the Philippines. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
GMA Network
11 hours ago
- GMA Network
China tells PH: Sanctions vs. Tolentino within our legal prerogative
The Chinese Embassy in Manila on Tuesday insisted its right to sanction former senator Francis Tolentino despite protests from the Philippine government, saying its action is within its legal prerogative. Chinese Ambassador Huang Xillian was summoned by the Department of Foreign Affairs' Asia-Pacific division Friday to convey its strong protest for his government's decision to ban Tolentino from traveling to mainland China, including its special administrative regions of Hong Kong and Macau, over accusations of "egregious conduct on China-related issues." "The ambassador notified the DFA of the Philippines of China's decision to impose sanctions on former senator Francis Tolentino, and emphasized that for quite some time, driven by selfish interests, a handful of anti-China politicians in the Philippines have made malicious remarks and moves on issues related to China that are detrimental to China's interests and China-Philippines relations," an embassy statement said. It stressed that the Chinese government is "firmly resolved to defend national sovereignty, security, and development interests." Tolentino, who authored bills protecting the country's maritime zones in the West Philippine Sea, the stretch of waters in the South China Sea closer to the Philippines' western coast, sought reelection in last May's midterm polls, but lost. "Such sanctions fall purely within China's legal prerogative, and there are consequences for hurting China's interests," the embassy said. It warned that Tolentino's actions against China and "instigation of confrontation" will only "backfire, and ultimately harm the interest of the Philippines and Filipino people." For its part, the DFA reminded the envoy that the Philippines is a "democracy" that values "freedom of expression." "In the Philippines' adherence to the constitutional separation of powers among the three branches of government, it is the mandate of Senators and other elected officials to inquire on matters of national and public interests," the DFA said. The DFA said it is committed to addressing differences through diplomacy and dialogue while engaging China in a "constructive" manner "to promote mutual understanding." Relations between the two Asian neighbors plunged to its lowest in recent years after Chinese Coast Guard, Navy and suspected maritime militia ships have used high-pressure water cannons and dangerous maritime maneuvers to Philippine ships or vessels China has accused of entering its territorial waters illegally. An arbitral tribunal in The Hague, Netherlands in 2016 nullified China's massive claim over the resource-rich South China Sea, including areas within the waters that fall under Manila's territory. — VDV, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
16 hours ago
- GMA Network
More Chinese vessels spotted over WPS in June — PH Navy
The Philippine Navy said Tuesday that the number of Chinese vessels monitored over some features in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) has increased in June. At a press briefing, Philippine Navy spokesperson for WPS Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad said a total of 49 Chinese vessels were seen in Bajo de Masinloc, Ayungin Shoal, and Pagasa Island. Trinidad said nine CCG vessels and 14 PLAN vessels were seen in Bajo de Masinloc; 12 CCG vessels and two PLAN vessels in Ayungin Shoal; and nine CCG vessels and three PLAN Navy vessels in Pagasa Island. 'These 49 ships were not there all the time but they were in and out of the different features,' Trinidad said. According to him, the June record was the highest reported number of Chinese vessels in the WPS compared to the 11 in January, nine in February, 35 in March, 31 in April, and 41 in May. 'We have to look at it from the perspective of, probably, the weather or the deployment cycle,' Trinidad said when asked why the number of Chinese vessels in the WPS increased. 'Right now, we have no direct reference on the tactical implications of bakit tumaas to 49 from last month's number of 41…Probably, it will be a factor of the weather or the deployment cycle, maintenance and repair,' he added. Trinidad said the Philippine Navy remains on top of the situation, demonstrating continued heightened vigilance and sustained presence in the country's maritime domain. 'With strengthened maritime domain awareness and inter-agency coordination, your AFP assures the public of its continued commitment to asserting the nation's rights and maintaining peace and stability in the region,' he said. Tensions continue as Beijing claims almost all of the South China Sea, a conduit for more than $3 trillion of annual shipborne commerce, including parts claimed by the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Brunei. Parts of the South China Sea that fall within Philippine territory have been renamed by the government as West Philippine Sea to reinforce the country's claim. The West Philippine Sea refers to the maritime areas on the western side of the Philippine archipelago including Luzon Sea and the waters around, within and adjacent to the Kalayaan Island Group and Bajo de Masinloc. In 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration in the Hague ruled in favor of the Philippines over China's claims in the South China Sea, saying that it had "no legal basis." China has refused to recognize the decision. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
17 hours ago
- GMA Network
Zubiri: Imposing tax not answer to ills of online gambling
Senator Juan Miguel 'Migz' Zubiri said Tuesday that imposing tax on online gambling is not enough to address the problems it brings to society. This, as Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro said that President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. will study the proposal of the Department of Finance (DOF) to tax online gaming in a bid to restrict it. The DOF is eyeing to propose a tax on online gaming as well as other policies to curb unrestricted access to gambling, including digital gambling platforms. Zubiri, who earlier filed a bill seeking an outright ban on all forms of online gambling including digital betting platforms, mobile applications, and websites that allow users to place wagers through electronic devices, said that the government should look at what happened to the Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) when it was taxed. 'We passed a law taxing POGO operations in the country and it did not stop the moral scourge to society. Lalong lumala ang mga sindikato at human trafficking cases sa bansa,' the senator said in a statement. (The syndicates and human trafficking cases in the country got worse when we taxed POGO.) 'So taxing them is not an answer to the social ills it will cause our kababayans. Kumikita lang tayo sa pag-gigipit at paghihirap ng ating mga mamamayan [We only make money from the oppression and suffering of our countrymen]. In English, we're profiting from the misery of our people. Kawawa naman and ating bansa,' he added. Ban access in e-wallets, super apps For her part, Senator Risa Hontiveros filed a bill seeking to ban online gambling access in e-wallets and super apps in response to the growing clamor for tighter regulations on such games. 'Phones are not casinos. Naging masyadong madali ang malulong sa sugal dahil napaka-accessible nito sa mga e-wallets at super apps,' Hontiveros said in a statement. (Phones are not casinos. It has become very easy to get addicted to gambling as it is very accessible through e-wallets and super apps.) 'Napakarami sa ating mga kababayan ang nabaon sa patong-patong na utang dahil sa e-sugal na lalong pinadali ng mga e-wallets. Para sa iba, buhay ang naging kapalit, dahil isang pindot lang ang kailangan,' she added. (Many of our countrymen are buried in debt because of e-gambling that is made easier by e-wallets. Lives of others may also be put at risk because all it takes is a click.) The bill also prohibits those aged below 21 from online gambling platforms and bans the advertisement of online gambling in public spaces, tri-media, and social media. It also mandates PAGCOR to set daily, weekly, and monthly betting and loss limits, which when reached will trigger the suspension of gaming accounts for a minimum of 30 days. The country's gaming industry saw its total revenues grow to P104.12 billion in the first quarter of 2025, up 27.44% year-on-year, driven for the first time by the growing popularity of electronic games among Filipinos. The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR), meanwhile, welcomed proposed measures seeking to put stricter regulations on online gambling. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News
