Lacson warns vs ‘homegrown traitors’ amid West Philippine Sea debate

This photo issued by the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) shows Chinese Maritime Militia (CMM) vessels swarming the area of Julian Felipe Reef taken December 2, 2023. The PCG raised concerns about the presence of at least 135 CMMs who did not respond to radio challenges by the PCG in the Julian Felipe Reed. These vessels began swarming in the area on November 13. Julian Felipe Reef, located 175 nautical miles west of Bataraza, Palawan, is a low tide elevation within the territorial sea of key high tide features in the Kalayaan Island Group, including Chigua Reef, over which the Republic of the Philippines has sovereignty. Photos courtesy of the Philippine Coast Guard 

MANILA — Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” Lacson on Sunday warned against “homegrown traitors,” who he said are Filipinos willing to sell the country in exchange for personal gain. 

Lacson did not mention any names but the halls of Congress have seen heated exchanges in recent weeks on China and its actions in the West Philippine Sea.

"In geopolitics, the most common sources of information are technical intelligence and homegrown traitors who are willing to sell their country in exchange for what’s in it for them. In intelligence operations, it is called 'recruitment in place,'" Lacson said in an X post.  

KALAYAAN ISLAND GROUP

The latest in the debates has been on the Kalayaan Island Group, which is part of Palawan province and which a senator has seemed to suggest giving up.

Lacson said that the Spratly Islands, where KIG is located, was discovered and owned by lawyer and adventurer Tomas Cloma. 

He added that Cloma turned over the ownership of the land to the Philippine government and is now recognized as a town in Palawan and being occupied by Filipino families.

Sen. Rodante Marcoleta argued in a Commission on Appointments' hearing last week that portions of the KIG do not fall under the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ) if the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) is used as a basis. 

He also suggested giving up the island group to "make things easier to coordinate", a remark that he has since said was taken out of context.

Under UNCLOS, the Philippines’ EEZ spanned up to 200 nautical miles while territorial sea refers to waters 12 nautical miles from shore, both from the baselines. 

Presidential Decree 1596 meanwhile identified and recognized the coordinates of the “Kalayaan Island Group" under Philippine sovereignty. 

Republic Act 9522 or the Philippine Archipelagic Baselines Law also identified as the Philippine “Regime of Islands” the baselines of the Kalayaan Island Group and Bajo de Masinloc, also known as Scarborough Shoal.

In response to the senator's remarks, Philippine Coast Guard Commodore Jay Tarriela, the agency's spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, invited him to join a Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) flight to the KIG.

'You are considered a traitor': Tarriela warns vs backing China’s claims in West PH Sea

In a phone interview, Maritime law expert Atty. Jay Batongbacal described Marcoleta’s remarks as “unacceptable” and dangerous to national security, adding that his statements weaken the Philippine position and reinforce China’s claims in the disputed lands.

He said the statements, in effect, are “deceiving the people into giving up something that is already theirs by right."

Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez and House Minority Leader Rep. Marcelino Libanan also clashed Monday at the House of Representatives after the former accused the latter of "protecting China" in his privilege speech.

Libanan called for discipline and professionalism from government officials when addressing sensitive foreign policies, including the West Philippine Sea, after China commented on Tarriela's Facebook post that included cartoonish images of Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Rodriguez accused Libanan of defending China after all the reported aggressions it has done to PCG vessels and fishermen in the West Philippine Sea.

The exchange was prompted by online clashes between the Chinese Embassy and Tarriela as well as Sen. Francis Pangilinan.

CHINA INFLUENCE

Sen. Risa Hontiveros previously expressed that she also wants the Senate to probe supposed social media propaganda that China may be funding.

She also said the statements of the Chinese Embassy in Manila mirror the messages of social media trolls in the country.

The Senate previously held hearings on Makati PR firm InfinitUs, which was reportedly hired by the Chinese Embassy to meddle in the 2025 elections.

The firm denied the allegations.

Microsoft October last year reported that the Philippines ranked sixth among the countries targeted by Chinese-linked cyber threat actors, which focused on the country’s IT, government, and academic sectors.

The government has also raised the alarm on Chinese nationals assuming Filipino identitiessimilar to ousted Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo who has also since been found guilty of qualified human trafficking over her ties to a Philippine Offshore Gaming Operation (POGO) hub.

ANTI-ESPIONAGE LAW

Amid China’s continuing aggression in the West Philippine Sea and alleged social media influence and interference in Philippine politics, a stronger anti-espionage law has been called for. 

The House of Representatives’ Subcommittee on Penal Laws December last year began deliberations on bills that aim to amend Article 117 of the Revised Penal Code and update prohibitions on espionage, which currently are only applicable during a state of war. 

There are currently nine bills pending before the subcommittee filed by Cagayan De Oro City Rep. Lordan Suan, Batangas Rep. Gerville Luistro, ML Party-list Rep. Leila De Lima, Negros Occidental Rep. Javier Benitez, Iloilo Rep. Binky Tupas, CIBAC Party-list Rep. Eduardo Villanueva, Albay Rep. Carlos Loria, Cagayan De Oro City Rep. Rufus Rodriguez, and ABAMIN Party-list Rep. Maximo Rodriguez Jr.

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