Senate bets who don’t speak vs China intrusion not pro-PH – Ortega

National flags of the Philippines and China. FILE / STOCK

MANILA, Philippines — Senatorial candidates who do not speak against China’s intrusion into Philippine affairs indicate that they are not pro-Philippines, Deputy Majority Leader and La Union 1st District Rep. Paolo Ortega V said on Monday.

In a press briefing, Ortega was asked about his statement that Palawan is at risk if China-funded candidates win in the 2025 midterm elections.

Ortega said senatorial candidates have to be, first and foremost, supportive of the Philippines’ interests.

“We have seen many posts and claims saying that they have ownership of Palawan. That may be the biggest fake news today, and it’s saddening — as I have said in my stand — we cannot have senatorial candidates who are not pro-Philippines,” he said.

“The candidate should take care of the country, and show dedication for the Filipinos.  That is so clear, that’s why those who are silent, we know it, they are not pro-Philippines. Do I need to say what side they are in favor of?  For sure, they are also pro-trolls, as they go along well,” he added.

When asked who are the candidates he was referring to, Ortega said: “They are not famous, I don’t know them. Some of the pro-China candidates who are noisy are not faring well in surveys, they rank around the 40s, the 50s, so I don’t pay much attention.”

“They’re from the other side.  It seems that they are disguising, hiding behind throwing issues when they should be presenting platforms. Those who rant a lot about the administration are usually those who are down in the survey rankings, those who are not as famous, they are being funded,” he added.

Earlier, Ortega urged Filipinos to be wary of candidates who may be receiving funding from China, noting that should they win in the upcoming polls, they would be a threat to the Philippines’ sovereignty.

“China started with the West Philippine Sea (WPS). Now, they are claiming the entire Palawan. Let us think about this — if there are candidates who get funds from China, whose interests would they protect?  Our nation or those who funded them?” Ortega said in Filipino.

“Before, they said that Scarborough Shoal was theirs. Later, they built bases in the [WPS].  Now, they are targeting Palawan. And if we are not vigilant, we may wake up one day to Chinese structures in Palawan,” he added.

On Chinese social media platforms, videos are showing that the nine-dash line — China’s territorial claim which encompasses a huge part of the WPS or the Philippine exclusive economic zone — now includes Palawan.

According to Ortega, some posts even show digitally altered images of Palawan with Chinese flags.

The National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) has already clarified that Palawan never belonged to China, noting that the Philippines and its state predecessors have “always exercised sovereignty over our archipelago and over Palawan in particular.”

READ: Palawan was never part of China – NHCP

Former Bayan Muna Rep. Neri Colmenares said that the government should increase maritime patrols in the WPS after China’s claim on Palawan, calling such assertions “delusional.”

READ: China’s claim on Palawan ‘delusional,’ PH urged to act

Ortega did not mention names, but there are at least two groups who have made a stance opposite to the administration — former president Rodrigo Duterte’s PDP-Laban and the Koalisyong Makabayan.

Of the two, it has been Duterte’s side that has been accused of favoring Chinese interests. During Duterte’s term, Manila enjoyed improved ties with Beijing, although many observers believe this came at the cost of territorial integrity.

READ: Make PH a province of China, Duterte jokes in front of Chinese envoy 

Duterte himself made several jokes about making the Philippines a Chinese province, aside from saying that the arbitral award given by the Permanent Court of Arbitration — which invalidated the nine-dash line for lack of historical and legal basis — is just a piece of paper that can be thrown into a waste bin.

READ: Duterte on PH court win over China: ‘That’s just paper; I’ll throw that in the wastebasket’