Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” Lacson issued a stinging rebuke on Sunday against what he termed “homegrown traitors,” accusing certain Filipinos of compromising national sovereignty in exchange for personal gain.
The veteran lawmaker’s warning comes as the national conversation over the West Philippine Sea reaches a boiling point, fueled by controversial statements from within the halls of Congress and reports of foreign influence operations.
In a post on X, Lacson drew on his intelligence background to describe the internal threat, noting that in geopolitics, adversaries often rely on “recruitment in place”—the practice of tapping locals to provide information or influence policy from within.
While Lacson did not name specific individuals, his remarks followed a wave of backlash against Rep. Rodante Marcoleta, who recently questioned the Philippines’ claim over the Kalayaan Island Group (KIG) and suggested that relinquishing the territory might “make things easier to coordinate.”
Lacson countered such suggestions by reinforcing the historical and legal status of the KIG, noting it was discovered by Filipino Tomas Cloma and is now a recognized town in Palawan protected under the Philippine Archipelagic Baselines Law.
The controversy has further fueled the push for a stronger anti-espionage law, as the House of Representatives currently reviews nine separate bills aimed at updating the Revised Penal Code to punish espionage outside of a state of war.
Maritime experts, including Atty. Jay Batongbacal, warned that rhetoric questioning Philippine territory serves to “deceive the people” and directly bolsters China’s position in the disputed region.
