After prodding by the Senate minority bloc, the Senate foreign relations committee will finally hold a public hearing on the controversial militarization by China of parts of the Spratly island chain legally owned by the Philippine government.“I welcome the call for the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations to conduct a public hearing on the government’s policy towards China. I agree that the Senate, as an independent body, should assert our role in helping shape the government’s foreign policy,’’ declared Sen. Loren Legarda, committee chairwoman. Senate Minority Leader Franklin M. Drilon had said it is up to the Legarda committee to assert the right of the Senate to conduct public hearings on foreign policy issues since the Upper House is the partner of the Executive branch on foreign policy matters.

Casayuran, M. B., & Estacio, D. J. (2018, June 16). Senate to probe China's militarization in Spratlys. Manila Bulletin, p. 4.