Jauhn Etienne Villaruel

Article (news)

Job Manahan

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/1770174264655HARwyiYbwAAZuIp_cropped_processed_by_imagy.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Sen. Erwin Tulfo, the new chairperson of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, holds press briefing on Feb. 4, 2026. He says he had a short meeting with Foreign Affairs Secretary Tess Lazaro on various issues. Job Manahan, ABS-CBN News</span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — Senator Erwin Tulfo on Wednesday said he would ask his colleagues to “tone down” their “personal attacks” against Chinese officials, as the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said this could affect the ongoing negotiations for a code of conduct (COC) in the South China Sea.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/1/28/negotiations-on-s-china-sea-code-of-conduct-unlikely-to-finish-this-2026-analyst-1523">Negotiations on South China Sea code of conduct unlikely to finish this 2026—analyst</a></div><p>Tulfo, the new chairperson of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, issued the statement following his meeting with Foreign Affairs Secretary Theresa Lazaro earlier in the day.</p><p>“Okay naman, we keep on saying that is ours (West Philippine Sea), totoo naman. We have a claim. Hindi naman pwedeng itikom ang bibig natin,” Tulfo told reporters in a chance interview.</p><p>“‘Yung personal na lang siguro [iwasan]. But still we are going to review that. Kakausapin ko si Senators Hontiveros at Pangilinan regarding that matter. Siguro next week, we’ll go down, kakausapin naman po ang National Security Council natin, kasi ang statements nila, minsan personal na,” he added.</p><p>Tulfo said that toning down did not mean limiting their sentiments, but instead, keeping discussions issue-based.</p><p>“It is hard kasi when you negotiate, these dialogues, tapos may maririnig ka. Dapat we just need to focus sa fisherman natin, safe sila hindi sila nasasaktan,” he said.</p><p>“Sa Code of Conduct na yan, may other nations involved. Sa South China Sea o West Philippine Sea. Andiyan ang Malaysia, Brunei, Vietnam at tayo. So kahit kasama tayo doon sa Code of Conduct, ano ang gagawin, yung ugali ng claimant,” he added</p><p>Senator Risa Hontiveros earlier this week said the Senate should further investigate the social media propaganda allegedly financed by China.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/2/2/hontiveros-senate-to-probe-alleged-pro-china-social-media-propaganda-1912">Hontiveros: Senate to probe alleged pro-China social media propaganda</a></div><p>The senator also lambasted the Chinese embassy for its statements against some officials. She said the embassy’s statements mirror what is seen in posts of some social media pages in the country.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/2/3/-a-congressman-in-favor-of-china-2-lawmakers-clash-over-defending-china-0213">&#x27;A congressman in favor of China?!&#x27;: 2 lawmakers clash over &#x27;defending China&#x27;</a> </div><p>Senators Marcoleta and Kiko Pangilinan, meanwhile, clashed Tuesday over the exact coordinates of the part of the South China Sea under the Philippines’ sovereign rights.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>MEETING WITH CHINESE EMBASSY? </strong></div><div><br/></div><p>Tulfo said based on his conversation with Lazaro, the DFA will “arrange a meeting” between him, his committee, and Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Jing Quan. </p><p>The senator said he would push for Filipino fishermen to freely fish in Philippine waters. </p><p>“Kapag nagkita yung Coast Guard nila at Coast Guard natin, huwag naman ho bombahin ng tubig,” he said. </p><p>“So, parang kakausapin nila, pero I believe there&#x27;s an ongoing negotiation. Hindi ko lang masabi ngayon kung what&#x27;s going on. Pero there is, there&#x27;s a continuing dialogue between the Chinese embassy and our Foreign Affairs,” he added. </p><p>Lazaro last week said the country, as ASEAN chair, endeavors to conclude the COC negotiations this year, adding that parties would conduct several meetings on this.  </p><p>These meetings, she said, would be held in-person, considering this a strategy.</p><p>She did not say, however, when the fresh round of discussions would begin.</p><div><strong>RELATED VIDEOS: </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/5HVqGXEimg0?&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/mA8BRoTIr4U?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>Sen. Erwin Tulfo, the new chairperson of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, issued the statement following his meeting with Foreign Affairs Secretary Theresa Lazaro.</p>

Sen. Erwin Tulfo, the new chairperson of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, issued the statement following his meeting with Foreign Affairs Secretary Theresa Lazaro.

Tulfo to ask senators to ‘tone down personal attacks’ vs Chinese officials amid COC talks

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Tulfo to ask senators to ‘tone down personal attacks’ vs Chinese officials amid COC talks

Job Manahan,

ABS-CBN News

Published February 04, 2026 11:12 AM PHT

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Updated February 04, 2026 12:30 PM PHT

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Erwin Tulfo

COC

code of conduct

south china sea

west philippine sea

Senate

Chinese embassy

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