Solons back Marcos’ foreign policy, stand on West PH Sea dispute

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr. (FILE PHOTO)

MANILA, Philippines — Several lawmakers have dismissed notions that President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s foreign policy is too strong, saying that the Chief Executive’s actions were warranted as he is standing up for the country’s sovereignty.

Members of the House of Representatives’ youth movement — Lanao del Norte 1st District Rep. Khalid Dimaporo, Lanao del Sur 1st District Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong, PBA party-list Rep. Margarita Nograles, 1-Rider party-list Rep. Ramon Rodrigo Gutierrez, and Davao Oriental 2nd District Rep. Cheeno Almario — maintained on Tuesday that Marcos has not done anything outside of the country’s interests.

Adiong said that, in particular, the West Philippine Sea (WPS) issue had been decided, as the Permanent Court of Arbitration ruled in favor of the Philippines in 2016, dismissing China’s claim for lack of historical and legal basis.

“So, the truth of the matter is, when it comes to the issue of the West Philippine Sea it has already been decided by the UNCLOS Arbitral Tribunal. And we’ve seen for the past several years the bullying tactic of China in terms of asserting their rights over ours, within the exclusive economic zone of the Philippines.  So for bullying, the answer is not to falter, but to stand your ground,” Adiong said.

“I think the President also exerts that being the Commander in Chief and as well as the foreign architect of our country, he has asserted that right.  And we have to support that […] We don’t only share that among ourselves but it is also being viewed by the international community, the importance of the Philippines in the issue of the Indo-Pacific region,” he added.

Gutierrez said that Marcos has followed the narrative set by Filipinos—that the WPS belongs to the Philippines and that sovereign rights must be upheld and protected.

“As of this point, I don’t think the President is doing anything outside the scope we have already been doing as Cong. Zia said this has always been our narrative, this has always been our truth. The West Philippine Sea is ours and we will do everything that we can to protect it and that goes the same for the president,” Gutierrez said.

The lawmakers made the statements after being asked about Senator Robinhood Padilla’s statements in an April 15 briefing, where he said he feels President Marcos is being “too brave” in his foreign policy.

According to Padilla, the more important focus should be food security, noting that the country cannot afford to wage war with China.

“For me, I feel that the President is being too brave in his decisions but of course, that is his decision.  If he thinks that would improve the country, why would I object to that?  This is not the time to oppose the President, not the time to be divided,” Padilla said in Filipino then.

“Because we arrived at a point where (United States President Joe) Biden says that in the case of an attack, the MDT (Mutual Defense Treaty) will be automatic […] Defense treaties are a big topic, that’s near to a war.  Are we prepared for that?  Let’s think about this properly,” he added.

Nograles believes opinions on Marcos being “too brave” are subjective, noting that it is normal to fight for what belongs to the country.

“Well, being brave I think is very subjective, right?  […] One can see it as being too brave, but another can see it as fighting for what you love, right?  It’s just like romantic love, if you love someone, if the President loves the Philippines, you have to protect what you love and what you own,” she said.

“But you fight for what is yours and that is what the President is doing.  He is fighting for what is ours to show how much he loves the Philippines.  And so, if the stance of our honorable Senator is that this is brave, that’s his own opinion,” she added.

Dimaporo, meanwhile, said that Marcos’ stand on the WPS issue is also the product of his effective foreign policy, as he has attracted allies to stand with the Philippines on the issue.

“Well, I would like to say that President Bongbong Marcos was not ‘too brave’.  I think what’s happening now or what happened is the output or product of his effectiveness in foreign policy and diplomacy with our friends and allies. So, it’s only natural that when you have a very progressive leader such as President Bongbong Marcos, our allies will come to our aid,” Dimaporo said.

“And I think what happened in the WPS, the joint exercise with the Philippine government, the United States of America, and Japan is just a show of solidarity. So, it’s not really brave,” he added.

There have been fears that the first-ever trilateral summit between the Philippines, United States (US), and Japan has only brought up tensions in the WPS, as China is expected to continue its aggressive actions

Marcos attended the summit in Washington, D.C. with Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio.  After the meeting, the three leaders released a joint statement calling on China to stop using its Coast Guard in a coercive manner.

After the historic trilateral summit last April 12 in Washington, D.C., China expressed its opposition to a “stoking bloc confrontation” in the WPS — referring to the Philippines-US-Japan alliance.

However, local and American officials have maintained that the summit is not aimed at China’s aggressive actions over the WPS. 

Before Marcos went to the US, the Department of Foreign Affairs said that despite the rising tensions, the summit is not directed at any country.

Then, a day before the summit, US National Security Council Coordinator for Strategic Communications John Kirby said that while it is easy to look at the talks as a response to China’s harassment of Philippine vessels, it would be wrong to make such assumptions.