Bicol Saro Party-list Rep. Terry Ridon on Tuesday rejected the Chinese Embassy’s explanation of its ambassador’s disputed remarks and urged the government to consider action against lower-ranking diplomats, while leaving the decision on the ambassador to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

In a press briefing Tuesday, Ridon said the embassy could not decide for the Philippines whether the remarks amounted to intimidation.

“A threat is a threat,” he said.

The lawmaker, however, acknowledged the President’s position on keeping the dispute within diplomatic channels but said other responses remained available.

“Option ng ating pangulo, palayasin po yung mga lesser diplomats (The president’s option is to expel the lesser diplomats),” Ridon said.

His proposal specifically included personnel operating the embassy’s social media account, which he said continued to attack Philippine officials even after the government had conveyed its objections.

Batangas 2nd District Rep. Gerville “Jinky Bitrics” Luistro supported a firm response to what she described as bullying while calling for a peaceful approach to the dispute.

“We should not be victims of [a] bully in our own land,” she said.

“But I wish to be clear, we are advocating a peaceful avenue of addressing the conflict with China,” she added.

Luistro said the government still needed to address the envoy’s remarks.

She linked her concern to the treatment of Filipinos in the West Philippine Sea and the respect expected from foreign representatives in the country.

“We deserve the respect of the foreign envoys,” she said.

Manila Rep. Joel Chua shared the objection to the remarks but stressed that the President had to weigh the consequences to our relations with China, including the interests of Filipinos working there.

“Very offensive na pagbabantaan tayo sa ating bansa (to be threatened in our own country),” Chua said.

The remarks followed Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro’s October 19 meeting with Chinese Ambassador Jing Quan.

The DFA summoned Jing to express the Philippines’ serious concern and strong objection to his Oct. 15 remarks, which it described as provocative and unacceptable.

Malacañang separately said Marcos did not want foreign diplomats expelled and would pursue the dispute through diplomatic channels. (PNA)