Joselito Malig

New chairperson to lead Senate Committee on Foreign Relations

Article (news)

Victoria Tulad

ABS-CBN News

MANILA - The Senate Committee on Foreign Relations will have a new chairman come Monday, February 2.  According to Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III, they will tackle the matter during their session. Senator Imee Marcos is the current chairman of the committee. She may possibly be replaced by Senator Erwin Tulfo.  Sotto said the expected change is not because Marcos did not sign the Senate resolution condemning recent statements of the Chinese embassy in Manila against Philippine officials.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/1/27/all-parties-bent-on-concluding-negotiations-for-south-china-sea-code-of-conduct-this-2026-1947">All parties ‘bent on concluding negotiations’ for South China Sea code of conduct this 2026 – official </a> </div>“It has nothing to do with that,” Sotto said  in an interview on Friday. “When the majority met, the thinking is that a major committee like Foreign Relations should be chaired by a member of the majority.”“Nung una hindi naman namin ginalaw yan, originally na kay Senator Imee Marcos yun, hinayaan namin thinking na later on puwede naman ika nga’y, puwede naman kami magkasama-sama. Apparently things didn’t work out that way. Merong mga importanteng mga treaties at agreements na naka-pending doon na malaki ang concern ng mga members of majority. So we discussed it and we decided that we should give it to a member of the majority,” he explained. Asked if there were talks for Marcos to transfer from the minority to the majority, Sotto said they have made jokes about it, even with Senators Bong Go and Robin Padilla.  Sotto said Tulfo has expressed interest for the committee back in August, and that they have asked Senate Majority Floor Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri to inform Marcos.“Sabi niya (Zubiri), nung sinabi niya na puwedeng open yung Constitutional Amendments, baka yun ang gusto niya (Marcos), hindi daw siya interested roon,” Sotto said.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/1/30/palace-marcos-shuns-persona-non-grata-tag-vs-chinese-embassy-officials-1439">Palace: Marcos shuns ‘persona non grata’ tag vs Chinese embassy officials</a></div>Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan is the chairman of the Committee on Constitutional Amendments, but wants to let it go because he already has much on his plate, according to Sotto.SENATE RESOLUTIONThe Senate may possibly take up the Resolution on China on Monday as well. Asked if they will include a provision declaring a Chinese embassy official persona non grata, Sotto said, “Sabi ko lang pag-aralan yung possibility. I said it on the floor. Pag-aralan yung possibility na puwedeng gawin yun. Sabi ni Senator Lacson, pag-aralan sapagkat baka daw hindi puwedeng ang isang diplomat ay aming i-persona non grata.”“Pero hindi talaga maganda ang pananalita na binibitawan ng spokesperson nila. Parang probinsya tayo ng Tsina eh,” he added. <div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/1/30/talk-of-persona-non-grata-declaration-vs-chinese-envoy-irks-embassy-0953">Talk of &#x27;persona non grata&#x27; declaration vs Chinese envoy irks embassy</a></div>Sotto, meanwhile, said Filipinos cannot be blamed if they think some senators are defending China.“I was hoping that it&#x27;s not true. Pero pagka you read between the lines, medyo talagang napapaboran. Napapaboran ang China nung mga ilan sa amin, sa mga statements. Hindi ko masisisi ang ating mga kababayan kung mag-isip sila ng ganon,” he commented.<div>  </div>

Senator Imee Marcos is the current chairman of the committee. She may possibly be replaced by Senator Erwin Tulfo.

Senator Imee Marcos is the current chairman of the committee. She may possibly be replaced by Senator Erwin Tulfo.