MANILA – Senator Joseph Victor Ejercito said the decision of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. not to ask China to recall Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian should be respected.
"We just have to respect the decision of the President. He is our leader. So, we have to respect his discretion," Ejercito said on Tuesday during the regular Kapihan sa Senado.
"We just made our sentiments be heard. Senate President Migz Zubiri, (and) myself because of the abrasive character of the Chinese Ambassador. But, sabi ng Presidente trabaho niya yan (the President said it is his job). Then, we just have to respect his decision," he added.
Ejercito, however, is hoping that Ambassador Huang would improve and be more diplomatic in his approach in dealing with the issue.
"He's an ambassador. He is considered to be a diplomat. He should be the one responsible in keeping the lines open between the countries no matter if there's tension. It's not really very cordial between the two countries. But he should try to be as diplomatic as possiible," the lawmaker said.
As the country's leader, Ejercito said President Marcos should be trusted in making the decision considering that he knows more information about the matter.
"Lahat ng intel, information nasa kanya (He has all the intel and information). So, he has a better chance of making the right decisions. We have just to trust him on his decision, especially on this issue," he said.
Senator Francis Tolentino, meanwhile, believes that the President made the right decision not to request for the recall of Ambassador Huang who is probably just following orders from Beijing.
"Siguro naman, with all due respect to my colleagues, yung sa kanila ay parang near declaration of persona non grata kasi hindi na naipapaabot siguro nang tama sa Beijing kung ano yung dapat ipaabot. Pareho pong tama yun (Maybe, with all due respect to my colleagues, it is near in the declaration of persona non grata because communications intended for Beijing is not being sent properly. They are both right). But considering that the President is higher in the totem pole of foreign policy directives, tama din si Presidente (the President is also right)," Tolentino said in a separate press briefing.
Ejercito earlier called for the request to recall Huang as Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines after allegedly confronted and disrespected Armed Forces of the Philippines chief of staff Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr.
Tolentino, on the other hand, was calling for the recall of Philippine Ambassador to China Jaime FlorCruz after latest provocations of China in the West Philippine Sea.
President Marcos said on Monday he would not ask China to recall its ambassador in the Philippines amid reports about the envoy’s supposedly disrespectful behavior, including his reported bullying of the Armed Forces chief.
“He’s the Ambassador of China. So, he will always take the Chinese position. Again, kung siguro ako’ng personally pinag-uusapan maybe I’ll be upset. But you’re talking about me, we’re talking about the Philippines,” President Marcos said in a media interview in Tokyo when asked if he is still comfortable with Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian.
“That doesn’t serve any purpose for us to lose our temper or to overreact. So, kung ‘yan ang gustong ibigay sa atin na Ambassador ng China eh wala naman -- hindi naman sa atin -- I mean kung talagang objectionable siya, you can make it known to Beijing. But I don’t -- I think Ambassador Huang is just doing his job,” he added. (PNA)
