PH Embassy in Beijing receives 'hate emails' amid WPS issue — Consul General

The Philippine Embassy in Beijing has been receiving "hate emails" from anonymous Chinese citizens amid the West Philippine Sea (WPS) issue, its minister and consul general Arnel Talisayon said on Wednesday.

The embassy official disclosed this at a Commission on Appointments (CA) hearing when asked by Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa if there are reports of harassment against Filipinos in China as territorial tensions between the two countries have swelled especially in the past months.

"Wala po kaming natatanggap na report mula sa mga Pilipino ng harassment dahil po sa China. But, of course, officially dito po sa Philippine Embassy, we would also sometimes get hate emails from unnamed Chinese citizens. But for the Filipino community po, so far, wala naman kaming naririnig na balita," Talisayon told the CA committee on foreign affairs.

(We have yet to receive reports of Filipinos getting harassed because of the dispute with China. But, of course, we in the embassy would also sometimes get hate emails from unnamed Chinese citizens. But for the Filipino community, so far, we have yet to receive any reports.)

Dela Rosa asked the Philippine Embassy in Beijing to continue its monitoring of the Filipinos in China, especially if the tension in the WPS escalates.

"Please continue monitoring para maalagaan natin 'yung mga kababayan natin d'yan just in case aabot sa sukdulan itong problema natin sa China. Patingin-tingin 'yung ating mga kababayan d'yan. Sana hanggang hate emails lang hindi aabot sa pisikal talaga na sakitan," Dela Rosa said.

(Please continue monitoring so we can take care of our countrymen there just in case the problem with China reaches the boiling point. Check on our countrymen from time to time. Hopefully, this will just be about hate emails and would not come to the point of physical harm.)

Meanwhile, Senator Jinggoy Estrada, chairman of the CA panel, also asked Talisayon how they are being treated in Beijing by the Chinese government officials.

"Madalas po kaming magkaroon ng meeting sa kanila sa Foreign Ministry and ako po mismo po ang uma-attend sa ilan sa mga meeting and all of my engagements naman po ay they all have been professional and cordial," Talisayon said.

(We often have meetings with the Chinese Foreign Ministry. I personally attend some of these. In all of my engagements, they have all been professional and cordial.)

Asked if they are being "bothered" in the Philippine Embassy, Talisayon answered in the negative. — VDV, GMA Integrated News