MANILA, Philippines – Malacañang on Wednesday maintained the Philippines won't be deterred by China’s retaliatory moves against elected officials and that the government would not cease in using the diplomatic approach in addressing the territorial dispute in the West Philippine Sea (WPS). Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary Claire Castro issued the statement after the Chinese government ordered a ban on 16 officials from the Kalayaan Island Group (KIG) from entering mainland China and its territories of Hong Kong and Macau. This is in response to the local government unit’s move to declare China’s envoy to Manila, Jing Quan, as persona non grata or unwelcome. The Chinese Embassy also blasted the Senate for issuing Resolution 256 calling for diplomatic measures in asserting the Philippines’ sovereignty and rights in addressing the territorial row. Its spokesman, Ji Lingpeng, said this was made “based on the principle of reciprocity, “Even if they are hostile, we have a legal, diplomatic method that can resolve any issue,” Castro said in Filipino in a press briefing. The official further stressed that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. would not trample on the rights to expression of anyone, may they be Filipinos or foreigners. The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), she added, would be the main agency to deal with the matter. “Again, the president is very clear on that issue. The president says that we will maintain a firm stance on our position with regard to our rights and interests over our own territory and over the West Philippine Sea,” Castro said. 'Constructive' Earlier in the day, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) urged the Chinese Embassy in Manila to "be constructive" in its statements amid its word war with some legislators over the WPS. The DFA issued the statement as Senate President Vicente Sotto III on Tuesday slammed Ji for trying to "silence" the chamber. Lingpeng rejected the "anti-China" resolution passed by the Senate “condemning” the embassy's recent public statements against lawmakers who defended the country's interests in the WPS. "No matter how many anti-China resolutions these people introduce, whether it’s 10 or even 100, it will not in the slightest weaken the Chinese embassy’s resolve to fight the malicious moves against China to the very end. Not a chance," Ji said. DFA spokesman for maritime affairs Rogelio Villanueva said that the department "values candid and vigorous debate with its foreign counterparts on important issues consistent with the Philippines’ democratic tradition." "While indeed the embassies have the duty to respond, the DFA urges that such responses be made in a calm and professional manner, conscious of the mutual respect that must prevail in all diplomatic interactions," he said. "As such, we urge the Chinese Embassy to be constructive in its statements towards a healthy dialogue despite major differences with a view to advance the overall bilateral relationship," Villanueva added.