DFA summons China envoy over Tolentino ban

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has summoned Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian to formally express its concern over Beijing's move to sanction former senator Francis Tolentino, Malacañang said yesterday.

- By HELEN FLORES and PIA LEE-BRAGO

Presidential Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said the DFA "conveyed to the Chinese side that while the imposition of such sanctions falls within China's legal prerogative, the imposition of punitive measures against democratically elected officials for their official acts is inconsistent with the norms of mutual respect and dialogue that underpin relations between two equal sovereign states." "The department reminded the ambassador that as a democracy, the Philippines 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," Castro said, quoting Foreign Affairs Secretary Maria Theresa Lazaro.

According to the DFA, Huang was summoned on July 4.

Castro said the Philippines, through the DFA, remains committed to addressing differences through diplomacy and dialogue and looks forward to continued constructive engagement with China to promote mutual understanding.

China barred Tolentino from entering the Chinese mainland, Hong Kong and Macau over his supposed "egregious" conduct on issues related to Beijing, the Chinese Foreign Ministry announced on July 1, a day after Tolentino's term in the Senate ended.

Beijing accused Tolentino and other "anti-China" Philippine politicians of making "malicious remarks and moves" detrimental to China's interests and its ties with Manila.