By Wilnard Bacelonia | Philippine News Agency
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.
Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson in a statement Sunday said resorting to “ad hominem” attacks against officials and lawmakers taking a pro-Philippine stance undermines discussion on national territory.
“The son also rises with his own ad hominem. Suggesting to use the PCG [spokesperson] and some senators as cannon fodder if China declares war against the Philippines is uncalled for,” Lacson said, referring to remarks made by Rep. Paolo Henry Marcoleta, son of Senator Rodante Marcoleta.
“He should visit Pag-Asa Island in KIG and see for himself the functioning local government there.”
Lacson said debates on the WPS should be anchored on facts, noting that Pag-asa Island is inhabited and hosts an operational local government unit, schools, and civilian facilities.
He reiterated that defending the WPS requires “sober, informed discussion grounded in law and conditions on the ground, not rhetoric that divides Filipinos”.
Include in education curriculum
Meanwhile, Senate Committee on Foreign Relations Chairperson Senator Erwin Tulfo is supporting the passage of Senate Bill No. 1625, or the proposed West Philippine Sea (WPS) Education Act.
“Despite being a critical point of Philippine sovereignty, many Filipinos are seemingly in the dark about the West Philippine Sea. We must integrate this into our education system,” Tulfo said in a news release Sunday.
Tulfo said the bill seeks to institutionalize a structured and age-appropriate WPS curriculum in both basic and higher education, covering internationally recognized facts, Supreme Court decisions, and relevant Philippine laws, including the 2016 arbitral ruling.
The measure mandates the Department of Education and the Commission on Higher Education to integrate WPS education into their curricula, supported by standardized learning materials and teacher training in coordination with agencies such as NAMRIA, the National Security Council, and the Department of Foreign Affairs. (PNA)
