Fifteen senators have signed a Senate resolution condemning China’s remarks against Philippine officials, as lawmakers continued to debate how Manila should respond to Beijing’s statements amid heightened tensions in the West Philippine Sea.

The measure, backed by a majority bloc in the Senate, affirms the sovereign right and duty of Philippine officials to speak out on matters of national interest, particularly in defense of the country’s maritime claims. It came in response to statements issued by the Chinese Embassy criticizing Filipino leaders who have publicly asserted the Philippines’ position in the West Philippine Sea.

Sen. Risa Hontiveros, one of the resolution’s signatories, earlier described Beijing’s posture as “gaslighting,” saying Philippine officials should not be intimidated for asserting rights grounded in international law.

Those who signed the resolution include Senators Vicente Sotto III, Bam Aquino, JV Ejercito, Jinggoy Estrada, Sherwin Gatchalian, Panfilo Lacson, Lito Lapid, Loren Legarda, Francis Pangilinan, Erwin Tulfo, Raffy Tulfo, Camille Villar, Mark Villar, and Juan Miguel Zubiri.

The resolution calls on China to respect international law, including the 2016 arbitral ruling that invalidated Beijing’s expansive claims in the South China Sea, and urges diplomatic restraint in addressing disputes involving the Philippines.

However, not all senators chose to affix their signatures. Several lawmakers declined to sign a separate draft resolution condemning the Chinese Embassy’s recent statements, reflecting differing views within the chamber on the appropriate balance between asserting sovereignty and maintaining diplomatic engagement with Beijing.

Among those who did not sign were Senators Pia Cayetano, Robinhood Padilla, Bong Go, Chiz Escudero, Bato dela Rosa, Rodante Marcoleta, Alan Cayetano, Joel Villanueva, and Imee Marcos.

The split underscores an ongoing debate in the Senate on how far the Philippines should go in publicly confronting China, even as Malacañang, the Department of Foreign Affairs, and security agencies have rallied behind Filipino officials targeted by Beijing’s remarks.

Despite the differing approaches, senators on both sides acknowledged the importance of protecting Philippine sovereignty and ensuring that disputes in the West Philippine Sea are addressed within the framework of international law and diplomatic norms.