Malaysia’s King Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. water a Gnetum gnemon tree during a state welcome ceremony at the National Palace in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia July 26, 2023. (Fazry Ismail/Pool via REUTERS)
MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. does not see how a resolution from Philippine Senate will make the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) stop China from harassing Filipino vessels in West Philippine Sea (WPS).
In an interview before leaving Malaysia for Philippines on Thursday, the President said foreign policy emanates from the executive branch — which he heads — and not from the legislature.
The Chief Executive gave this response after being asked for his reaction to Senate Resolution Number 659 authored by Senator Risa Hontiveros.
The resolution called on the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to sponsor a separate resolution to make UN condemn China.
“Generally speaking, foreign policy is not set by the legislature. Generally speaking, foreign policy is left up to the executive,” Marcos emphasized.
“So I mean, she — of course, the senator is free to file whatever resolution she wants — but I do not know how that would translate to any action that will reach the United Nations General Assembly,” Marcos wondered.
He explained United Nations listens to the whole of government, and not just parts of it.
“The United Nations entertains governments, not parts of government, not the judiciary of a government but the executive,” he pointed out.
Last June 20, Hontiveros filed a resolution asking Philippine government to bring to United Nations the issue on China’s harassment of Filipino fishermen in WPS.
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