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NEW LABOR CHIEF. Francis Tolentino takes his oath as Acting Secretary of DOLE on May 25, 2026.
In 2025, Beijing announced sanctions on Francis Tolentino over his remarks and moves which it saw as 'detrimental to China’s interests and China-Philippines relations'
MANILA, Philippines — In the waning months of the 2025 senatorial campaign, Francis Tolentino doubled down on sounding the alarm on alleged Chinese interference, even in the elections. It had been a message he carried throughout most of the three-month campaign: warning against China’s actions in the West Philippines Sea and supposed “pro-China” senatorial candidates.
In July, months after the May 2025 elections, Beijing announced sanctions on Tolentino for supposedly making “malicious remarks and moves on issues related to China that are detrimental to China’s interests and China-Philippines relations.” He was barred from entering China, as well as Hong Kong and Macau, its special administrative regions.
