HOUSE Senior Deputy Speaker Aurelio Gonzales Jr. of Pampanga yesterday said the latest Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey showing that 75 percent of respondents prefer candidates who will defend the country against China shows the senatorial bets of the administration’s Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas are preferred over China-backed candidates.
“Maliwanag są resulta ng survey na malawak ang suporta ng mga kababayan natin sa mga senatorial candidate ng Pangulong BBM (It’s clear in the survey result that our people have strong support for the senatorial candidates of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.),” Gonzales said.
The SWS’ April 11 to 14 commissioned survey showed that the respondents prefer “a candidate who believes that the Philippines must assert our rights against China’s aggressive actions in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).”
Only 25 percent of the respondents said they would choose “a candidate who does not believe that the Philippines must assert our rights against China’s aggressive actions in the West Philippine Sea.”
Gonzales said Alyansa candidates “share the President’s steadfast assertion of our country’s economic, sovereign and territorial interests in the West Philippine Sea, which is part of our country’s exclusive economic zone.”
Former Sen. Manny Pacquiao, who is part of the 11-man Alyansa slate, urged Filipinos to be vigilant amid reports of China’s alleged interference in the upcoming midterm elections on May 12, saying “our sovereignty faces subtle threats, not just from territorial encroachment, but from foreign forces that seek to influence our democratic choices.”
The boxing icon said the elections are for every Filipino, “not for foreigners,” and urged every citizen to “guard our freedom, not only with laws, but with unity and vigilance.”
National Security Council Assistant Director General Jonathan Malaya earlier said there are indications that information operations are being conducted “that are Chinese state-sponsored in the Philippines and are actually interfering in the forthcoming elections.”
“In this new kind of battle, hindi po ito laban ng isang tao lang (This is not just the fight of one man). Ito ay laban nating lahat (This fight is for all of us). Let us be watchful. Let us be proud. Let us be united,” he said. “The real battle now is within. Our fight is for our freedom and sovereignty as a nation. Let’s unite for this cause.”
Pacquiao said Filipinos “must not allow our country’s future to be dictated by foreign powers or influence.” “Your vote is for the Philippines, not for any interfering outsiders,” he said.
“Let us set aside our divisions and remember who we are. Tayong lahat ay mga Pilipino (We’re all Filipinos). We are bound by a shared vision kahit ano pa kulay at partido natin sa pulitika. (No matter what the color or political party). We are all dreaming of building a peaceful, strong, and independent nation,” he said.
