The Senate Committee on Foreign Relations will defer to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) regarding the Chinese Embassy's latest statements against the Senate.

This comes as the committee responds to renewed criticism from Chinese Embassy Spokesperson Ji Lingpen directed at the Senate, following the upper chamber's adoption of a resolution condemning the Chinese diplomat's previous statements against Philippine government officials.

According to Senator Erwin Tulfo, newly elected chairperson of the Foreign Relations Committee, he wants to give the Code of Conduct a chance to be implemented.

"Let's leave this to the Department of Foreign Affairs for now because there is a code of conduct. The good thing about this code of conduct is that before, China didn't want to accept it. They really didn't want to. No code of conduct. 'We will not respect the arbitral ruling.' At least now, since this is a code of conduct being worked on by four countries, according to Secretary Lazaro, it seems China is amenable," Tulfo said.

(Ipaubaya na muna natin sa Department of Foreign Affairs kasi meron code of conduct. The good thing about this code of conduct, dati ayaw nila tanggapin ng China. Ayaw talaga nila. Walang code of conduct. “We will not respect the arbitral ruling.” At least dito, siguro since code of conduct na ito, ginagawa ngayon ng apat na bansa, eh, mukhang according to Secretary Lazaro, mukhang amenable naman daw ang China.)

Meanwhile, Senator Francis Pangilinan stated that based on recent events, the ball is now in the DFA's court to defend Philippine institutions.

"The ball now is in the court of the DFA, and of course the Office of the President. We urge them to act in defense of our institutions. That is our call," Pangilinan said.

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