The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Tuesday summoned Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian to express the Philippine government's concern following the sanctions imposed by Beijing on former senator Francis Tolentino last July 1.

In a Malacanang press briefing, Palace Press Officer Claire Castro read a statement by Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro, saying that the Philippines, as a democratic country, upholds the principle of free speech and legislative independence.

“The DFA conveyed to the Chinese side that, while the imposition of such sanctions falls within China’s legal prerogative, the imposition of punitive measures against democratically elected officials for their official acts is inconsistent with the norms of mutual respect and dialogue that underpin relations between two equal sovereign states,” the statement read.

"The Department remains committed to addressing differences through diplomacy and dialogue, and looks forward to continued constructive engagement with China to promote mutual understanding," the statement added.

The Chinese Embassy said "the ambassador notified the DFA of the Philippines of China’s decision to impose sanctions on former senator Francis Tolentino, and emphasized that for quite some time, driven by selfish interests, a handful of anti-China politicians in the Philippines have made malicious remarks and moves on issues related to China that are detrimental to China’s interests and China-Philippines relations," an embassy statement said.

It stressed that the Chinese government is "firmly resolved to defend national sovereignty, security, and development interests."

Tolentino, who authored bills protecting the country's maritime zones in the West Philippine Sea, the stretch of waters in the South China Sea closer to the Philippines’ western coast, lost in last May's midterm polls, but lost.

"Such sanctions fall purely within China’s legal prerogative, and there are consequences for hurting China’s interests," the embassy said. Velle White-DMS