Jonathan Frederic De Santos

The plenary hall of the House of Representatives  minutes before it opens for the first regular session for the 20th Congress on July 28, 2025. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News

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ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA <strong>(UPDATED) </strong>— Mamamayang Liberal Party-List Rep. Leila De Lima on Wednesday urged colleagues to support a House resolution calling for &quot;bolder&quot; moves against &quot;inappropriate and undiplomatic statements and actions&quot; by Chinese Embassy officials.</p><p>De Lima made the call a day after the embassy announced that 16 officials of Kalayaan, Palawan are banned from China, Hong Kong and Macau in response to the local government declaring Chinese Ambassador Jing Quan persona non grata in the municipality, which includes Pag-Asa Island in the West Philippine Sea.</p><p>De Lima said she stands with the 16 officials.</p><p>&quot;Isang karangalan na manindigan sa kung ano ang atin, at itaguyod ang ating pambansang dangal,&quot; she also said.</p><p>(It is an honor for any of us to stand up and to uphold national dignity)</p><p>De Lima pointed out that the Senate has already adopted its own resolution condemning embassy statements against Philippine officials and institutions.</p><p>In that resolution, the Senate said the Philippines has the &quot;sovereign right and responsibility to present, assert, and defend its official positions and national interests, in accordance with international law&quot; and called on the Department of Foreign Affairs to take &quot;necessary diplomatic measures&quot; over embassy officials&#x27; remarks.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/2/10/sotto-blasts-chinese-embassy-over-criticism-of-senate-resolution-on-remarks-vs-ph-officials-2008">Sotto blasts Chinese Embassy over criticism of Senate resolution on remarks vs PH officials<br/></a></div><p>De Lima said that, in light of the Senate resolution and other developments, she is calling on House members to join Liberal Party and Akbayan Party-List lawmakers in supporting House Resolution No. 680.</p><p>&quot;Para magkaroon ng mas malakas at matapang na tugon at paninindigan ang ating gobyerno laban sa mga kasinungalingan, pambubully at karahasan ng China sa ating mga kababayan sa West Philippine Sea,&quot; she said.</p><p>(So that the government will have a strong and courageous response and stand against the lies, bullying and violence against our fellow Filipinos in the West Philippine Sea) </p><p>Akbayan Party-List Rep. Perci Cendaña, among the 16 authors of the resolution, said in a separate statement that he is in solidarity with the officials of Kalayaan municipality, saying the ban on them is &quot;the price for the steadfast defense of our country’s sovereignty and territory.&quot;</p><p>He added: &quot;Nawa’y tularan ng lahat ng opisyal sa gobyerno ang pinamamalas na kagitingan ng mga pinuno at mga residente ng Kalayaan.&quot;</p><p>(May all government officials emulate the courage of the officials and residents of Kalayaan)</p><p>HR680 was referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs on February 2, where it remains pending.</p><p>The Palace on Wednesday said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. respects the freedom of expression of Ambassador Jing and of Chinese Embassy officials.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/2/11/palace-china-s-diplomats-have-as-much-freedom-of-speech-as-filipinos-do-1322">Palace: China&#x27;s diplomats have as much freedom of speech as Filipinos do</a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO</strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/gxBRDMZKD-k?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>De Lima pointed out that the Senate has already adopted its own resolution condemning embassy statements against Philippine officials and institutions.</p>

De Lima pointed out that the Senate has already adopted its own resolution condemning embassy statements against Philippine officials and institutions.

De Lima calls for House support for reso vs Chinese Embassy remarks

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De Lima calls for House support for reso vs Chinese Embassy remarks

ABS-CBN News

Published February 11, 2026 03:16 PM PHT

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Updated February 11, 2026 04:32 PM PHT

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Leila De Lima

Chinese Embassy

House of Representatives

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