President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. is opposed to calls to declare the Chinese diplomats to the Philippines persona non grata, Malacañang said on Friday, amid an ongoing heated exchange between Philippine officials and the Chinese Embassy over Beijing’s aggressive actions in the West Philippine Sea (WPS). 

In a chance interview with reporters, Presidential Communications Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Atty. Claire Castro said the President rejected proposals to expel Chinese diplomatic officials.

“No. No ang sagot ng Pangulo. Hindi ko na kailangan pang tapusin patungkol sa ganyan. So sabi ng Pangulo, no,” Castro said.

Further asked if Marcos was strongly opposed to the proposal, Castro reiterated the President’s position.

“Basta ang sagot ng Pangulo patungkol sa panawagan na ideklarang persona non grata ang Chinese ambassador — no,” she added.

Several senators are considering filing a Senate resolution recommending that Marcos declare certain Chinese Embassy officials persona non grata. 

In a radio interview, Senator Erwin Tulfo clarified that the Senate does not have the authority to declare a foreign diplomat persona non grata.

“The Senate has no such authority. That issue was raised, but it turns out only the President can declare a diplomat persona non grata,” Tulfo said.

“What we can do, and what we are contemplating, is to discuss filing a resolution declaring them persona non grata and recommending it to the Palace so the President can take action,” he added.

On Tuesday, Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III floated the possibility of declaring Chinese Embassy deputy spokesperson Guo Wei persona non grata. However, Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” Lacson immediately pointed out that such authority rests solely with the President as head of state.

Discussions have also included calls to declare Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian persona non grata, a move that drew a sharp response from the Chinese Embassy. 

The embassy’s spokesperson warned that its entire 12-member media affairs and public diplomacy team would leave the country should such a declaration push through.

In a separate radio interview, Atty. Jay Batongbacal, director of the University of the Philippines Institute for Maritime Affairs and Law of the Sea, said Malacañang’s reluctance stems from the diplomatic consequences of such an action.

According to Batongbacal, Malacañang is unwilling to declare the Chinese ambassador persona non grata “since it would mean cutting off diplomatic relations with China.”

He added that the embassy’s statement reflects a failure of diplomacy on Beijing’s part.

“Handa silang umalis. Alam nila na walang kumakausap sa kanila. Failure ang kanilang primary function na i-improve ang relations sa Pilipinas. Wala silang pupuntahan kaya okay lang sa kanila ma-PNG sila,” Batongbacal said.

Earlier, Castro stressed the ongoing verbal exchanges between the Chinese Embassy and Philippine officials should be addressed through diplomatic channels.

She said she sees no issue with statements made by government officials defending the country’s position, as long as these are aligned with the President’s directive to protect Philippine sovereignty.

“Hindi nadadaan ang ganitong klaseng usapan sa ingay. Dapat madaan sa diplomasya,” Castro said.

“Hindi pwedeng papairalin ang yabang dito.”