Chinese embassy bans Kalayaan officials from entering China

MANILA, February 11 ------ The Chinese embassy in the Philippines said it is banning officials of the town of Kalayaan in Palawan from entering China, including Hong Kong and Macao.

This, after the local government of Kalayaan declared Chinese ambassador to the Philippines Jing Quan persona non grata within its municipal jurisdiction, citing supposed violations of diplomatic protocol and interference in Philippine internal affairs. In a statement, the spokesperson of the Chinese embassy said the following individuals involved in the resolutions released in 2023 and 2026, are "not welcome to enter China, including Hong Kong and Macao", based on the principle of reciprocity:

1. Beltzasar S. Alindogan

2. Maurice Phillip Alexis S. Albayda

3. Nonelon B. Balbontin

4. Nonie C. Gapuz

5. Roberto M. Asiado

6. Hubert B. Llavan

7. Francis P. Polizon

8. Marilou S. Vales

9. Monico A. Abogado

10. Eugenio B. Bito-onon

11. Hermoso A. Ornopia

12. Tracylie Shierjun R. Malabayabas

13. Arzel E. Belidan

14. Vicencio R. Milan

15. Allan D. Dellosa

16. Mary Cristina J. Lagrosa

The Sangguniang Bayan of Kalayaan earlier approved a resolution declaring the Chinese envoy "persona non grata" during its regular session on January 27. Authored by Vice Mayor Maurice Phillip Alexis Albayda, the measure strongly condemned the ambassador’s “violations of diplomatic protocol and affronts to Philippine officials."

Kalayaan is the country’s only municipality located in the West Philippine Sea. Its center on Pag-asa Island is where Manila asserts its sovereignty in the area. Albayda stressed that the move was meant to assert the town’s commitment to defending Philippine territorial integrity. A similar resolution was passed in August 2023, when the local government declared then Chinese ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian persona non grata in response to Beijing's water cannoning of Philippine Coast Guard boats at the Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal that month.

Source: news.abs-cbn.com