Wenceslao: Upholding sovereignty

Wenceslao: Upholding sovereignty

This country has been through many challenges. More often than not, it has passed the test and remained solid, though at times it got out of the test visibly weakened. That applies to our practice of western democracy. On May 9, our practice of democracy will once again be tested.

The challenge for us now is how to battle the foreign influences that are currently interfering with our practice of democracy using advances in technology. In 2016, some Chinese officials bragged that they had been able to influence the elections so Rodrigo Duterte would win. Duterte’s victory at that time meant the country managed to elect a pro-China leader. In the years following his win, whatever gains we had in strengthening our territorial integrity were shattered.

That is why I am interested in pinpointing who will carry the banner of China in the elections. I am sure the Central Intelligence Agency is working doubly hard also in ensuring we would elect a pro-US president in May. This will end up, therefore, as a vote for the lesser evil.

Judging from how their campaign unfurled, I would say the two candidates who closely battled for the post of vice president in 2016 are also the ones who are presenting their contrasting biases on this matter in the current presidential race. I am referring to Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and Leni Robredo. The first is pro-China while the other stands for a more independent foreign policy, which actually favors western interests.

The others, like Sen. Panfilo Lacson, labor leader Leody de Guman and boxing legend Sen. Manny Pacquiao have seen through China’s maneuvers and do not want to be Chinese puppets. Isko Moreno is being surrounded by former Duterte people, and therefore does not have any qualms toeing the Duterte foreign policy stance.

I say the May elections would be crucial in our efforts to advance the country’s territorial integrity. If we make the mistake of choosing another pro-China president, we had better be prepared to do actions that would oppose any pro-China move by the next president. The opposition should be done at every turn.

Meaning that civil society should unite and stand up once more for the country. The task would be difficult but it should be done. A nationalist movement should form to protect the territorial integrity of the country.

Of course, there is an easier way to prevent that from happening, which is to elect a president that is willing to stand up to China. That should immediately disqualify Marcos, who is fast turning out to be a China stooge.

Sometimes, in the heat of the electoral exchange, we forget that there are important issues we need to take to heart. Protecting the territorial integrity of the country is one. It is an issue we tend to overlook in choosing the president we would vote for. Which is sad because loyalty to the country is one of the values that our educational system and society have been inculcating to us since we were children.

So in assessing the candidacies of the current presidentiables, we should put a premium on love of country. A candidate who is willing to sell his or her soul to the devil just to win does not deserve our support. The task of defending the territorial integrity of the country is a challenge every Filipino voter needs to pick up.

Let us not repeat the mistake that voters committed in 2016. Let us elect a president that is willing to uphold Filipino sovereignty, no matter the cost. It is a challenge for us who love our country more than anything else.

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