Binuweltahan ng embahada ng China ang naging pahayag ni Sen. Risa Hontiveros at sinabi nilang hindi raw isang adbokasiya ang ginagawa ng senador kundi isang “political theater.” 

“Hindi kami pwedeng manahimik. Hindi pwedeng manahimik lamang si Commodore Tarriela. Di kami pwedeng tumigil dahil baka ma-hurt yung feelings ng Chinese Embassy. Tungkulin naming itaguyod ang interes ng Pilipinas at nating mga Pilipino,” ‘ika ni Hontivero sa kaniyang Facebook post noong Biyernes, Enero 23, 2026. 

Ayon naman sa naging sagot ni Chinese Embassy Deputy Spokesperson Guo Wei kay Hontiveros nito ring Biyernes, Enero 23, sinabi niyang wala raw nagpapatahimik kina Hontiveros at hindi raw lisensya ang “freedom of speech” para umano’y atakihin sila. 

“No one wants to silence you, and no one should be silenced. But freedom of speech is NOT a license to recklessly defame or attack others, let alone the head of state of another country—this is completely unacceptable,” pagsisimula niya. 

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Dagdag pa ni Wei, “China’s Foreign Ministry has summoned the Philippine Ambassador in Beijing to lodge a strong protest against the attacks and smears of Chinese leader, simply because someone has crossed the line.” 

Kinuwestiyon din niya si Hontiveros kung pinaglalaban ba raw talaga nito ang interes na para sa Pilipinas at mga Pilipino o dahil lang sa umano’y “political gains.” 

“BTW, are you really ‘advocating the interest of the Philippines and the Filipinos’? Or are you simply pursuing your own political gains? If you truly care about the country, you wouldn’t repeatedly twist the facts, mislead the Filipino public and incite hostility just to stay in the spotlight,” diin niya. 

Pagpapatuloy ni Wei, tila “political theater” daw ang ginagawa ni Hontiveros at hindi pagsusulong ng kaniyang adbokasiya para sa pambansang interes. 

“What you’re doing isn’t advocacy—it’s political theater. And the price of that theater is paid not by you, but by ordinary Filipinos who deserve stability, cooperation, and truth, not manufactured confrontation,” pagtatapos ni Wei. 

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