Manila: Lawmakers have underscored the need for a fact-based and unified national position on the West Philippine Sea (WPS), warning that personal attacks and misinformation weaken public understanding of Philippine sovereignty at a time of heightened geopolitical tension.
According to Philippines News Agency, Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson stated that resorting to 'ad hominem' attacks against officials and lawmakers taking a pro-Philippine stance undermines discussion on national territory. Lacson criticized remarks made by Rep. Paolo Henry Marcoleta, son of Senator Rodante Marcoleta, suggesting uncalled-for use of PCG spokesman and some senators as "cannon fodder" if China declares war against the Philippines. Lacson urged Marcoleta to visit Pag-Asa Island in KIG to witness the functioning local government, emphasizing that debates on the WPS should be rooted in facts.
Meanwhile, Senate Committee on Foreign Relations Chairperson Senator Erwin Tulfo is advocating for Senate Bill No. 1625, or the proposed West Philippine Sea (WPS) Education Act. Tulfo highlighted the lack of awareness among Filipinos regarding the WPS and pushed for its integration into the education system. The bill aims to institutionalize a structured WPS curriculum in both basic and higher education, covering internationally recognized facts and relevant Philippine laws, including the 2016 arbitral ruling. It mandates the Department of Education and the Commission on Higher Education to incorporate WPS education into their curricula.
Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri emphasized that the Philippines should not relinquish "even an inch" of the Kalayaan Island Group (KIG), citing its recognition as Philippine territory under domestic and international laws. Zubiri pointed out that Filipino communities inhabit the area, reinforcing the government's responsibility to defend it for current and future generations. Laws such as the Philippine Maritime Zones Act and the Archipelagic Sea Lanes Act, passed in the 19th Congress, further assert the country's rights over the WPS and the KIG.
