MANILA, Philippines 鈥� To counter the 鈥渇ake news鈥� and propaganda surrounding the subject, Senator Robinhood Padilla urged the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) to bolster its information campaign on the West Philippine Sea (WPS) issue.
In Senate Resolution 864 filed on Monday, Padilla urged the PCO to 鈥渃ommunicate to the public in an understandable way鈥� the pertinent treaties and laws supporting the Philippines鈥檚 lawful actions in the WPS.
Padilla鈥檚 resolution calls for the PCO to communicate to the public various treaties and documents like the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, the 2016 Arbitral Ruling, the Mutual Defense Treaty of the Philippines and the United States, and the proposed Reciprocal Access Agreement between the Philippines and Japan.
鈥淎s the nation鈥檚 security landscape continues to evolve, it is incumbent upon the PCO to provide clear, up-to-date and accurate information on matters of public concern relating to the security challenges confronting our country,鈥� Padilla, who chairs the Senate committee on public Information and mass media, said in his resolution.
鈥淐oinciding with the seriousness of this issue is the risk of spreading propaganda, misinformation, and fake news with the advent of social media, which can greatly impact our pursuit of good governance and ultimately undermine democracy,鈥� Padilla added.
Padilla also recognized the caveat that 鈥渕atters that may have repercussions or may compromise the nation鈥檚 defense and security are naturally excluded from any public information and awareness campaign.鈥�
The Philippines currently occupies nine maritime features, collectively known as Kalayaan Island Group, around the WPS area.
Despite an international tribunal ruling effectively dismissing its claims, China聽asserts sovereignty in almost the entire South聽China聽Sea, including the WPS, causing tension between Manila and Beijing.
The BRP Sierra Madre became the flashpoint of the tensions between the two countries as Philippine vessels conducting regular resupply missions for the commissioned World War II-era ship were harassed by China鈥檚 vessels.
This year alone,聽China聽used聽military-grade lasers in February and a聽water聽cannon聽last August and only this month against Philippine vessels.
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