Jauhn Etienne Villaruel

Article (news)

Harlene Delgado

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17709647519891769057745384171929591288020181119-chinese-flag-xi-jinping-state-visit-MD-8757_cropped_processed_by_imagy_cropped_processed_by_imagy.webp" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Chinese flags wave with Philippine flags along Roxas Boulevard in Manila on November 19, 2018. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News/File<br/></span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><p>MANILA — The Department of Foreign Affairs on Friday reaffirmed its commitment to continue championing the Philippine’s position in the maritime domain through the “effective use of diplomacy.&quot;</p><p>This comes amid heated exchanges between the Chinese Embassy and Philippine officials on the West Philippine Sea issue and criticisms on the department’s “closed-door diplomacy” in handling tensions.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/2/13/-china-wins-carpio-rejects-dfa-s-closed-door-diplomacy-on-wps-0958">&#x27;China wins&#x27; if DFA insists on &#x27;closed-door&#x27; diplomacy on West PH Sea—Carpio</a></div><p>DFA spokesperson for Maritime Affairs Rogelio Villanueva Jr. said they will continue to engage counterparts “in a firm and professional manner” consistent with the mutual respect that must prevail in all diplomatic interactions.</p><p>“The DFA will continue to be guided by the President’s directive as the chief architect of Philippine foreign policy and not to allow ourselves to be sidetracked by the jeers of some casual commentators, non-practitioners and self-styled experts,” Villanueva said in a statement before the press Friday, February 13. He did not name names.</p><p>Villanueva also clarified that Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro’s January 20 letter to Senator Risa Hontiveros saying the DFA has raised concerns and articulated the country’s West Philippine Sea position to China was not leaked.</p><p>“In fact, the secretary gave the permission to the good senator to release it to the public,” he said.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>&#x27;NOT FOR FANFARE, NOT FOR LIKES&#x27;</strong></div><div> </div><p>“While performative rhetoric is a reality in modern public discourse, the DFA has long ago resolved to conduct our work with the national interest as the sole consideration—not for fanfare, not for followers and certainly not for likes but solely for the national interest and welfare of the Filipino people,” Villanueva stated.</p><p>The newly-appointed spokesperson for maritime affairs also pointed out that the agency’s mandate is to “to uphold Philippine interest while seeing common ground when possible”.</p><p>“We, at the department, are often asked why we continue to engage China amid their continued illegal, coercive, aggressive and deceptive activities. The answer is because we are committed to manage the situation at sea peacefully,” he said.</p><p>He also emphasized that the country’s sovereignty over the Philippine archipelago and other territories—including Bajo de Masinloc and the high tide features of the Kalayaan Island Group and the maritime entitlements of the Philippines under UNCLOS and clarified by the 2016 arbitral award—is “incontrovertible and firmly founded on the international law.&quot;</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/2/13/-nasa-china-po-yan-palace-won-t-initiate-calls-to-replace-chinese-ambassador-0955">&#x27;Nasa China po &#x27;yan&#x27;: Palace won&#x27;t initiate calls to replace Chinese ambassador</a></div><p>“In connection with certain misconceptions in the public sphere, the DFA clarifies that maritime entitlements arise from territory and sovereignty over high-tide features are not contingent on whether or not they fall within the maritime zones of other land masses.”</p><p>Villanueva vowed that the department “will continue to issue protest and make firm representations of serious concern to the Chinese Embassy at the appropriate times”.</p><p>“[W]e will consistently assert to them and to the entire world the Philippines’ sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction in the West Philippine Sea,” he noted.</p><p>“The Filipino public can continue to count on the DFA to be a credible and authoritative voice for the Philippine’s positions and interest,” Villanueva added.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEOS</strong></div><div><br/></div><div><strong><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/PdPYl6EZIEE?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><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/GMNxTn9gtvg?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></strong><br/></div>

<p>DFA spokesperson for Maritime Affairs Rogelio Villanueva Jr. said they will continue to engage counterparts “in a firm and professional manner” consistent with the mutual respect that must prevail in all diplomatic interactions.</p>

DFA spokesperson for Maritime Affairs Rogelio Villanueva Jr. said they will continue to engage counterparts “in a firm and professional manner” consistent with the mutual respect that must prevail in all diplomatic interactions.

'Not for fanfare': DFA to engage with China in 'firm, professional manner' amid criticisms

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'Not for fanfare': DFA to engage with China in 'firm, professional manner' amid criticisms

Harlene Delgado,

ABS-CBN News

Published February 13, 2026 02:40 PM PHT

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DFA

West Philippine Sea

WPS

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