A Kalayaan town official expressed disappointment that 17% of Filipinos do not support the country’s efforts to assert its maritime rights in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).
Sangguniang Bayan member Francis Polizon said that while a majority of Filipinos back the government’s actions, it remains concerning that a segment of the population is not convinced based on the Octa Research survey conducted in September 2025.
Despite this, he said they will continue asserting the country’s claim over the WPS and the Kalayaan Island Group.
“Ang ginagawa namin ngayon, sabi nga sa survey, 83% ng mga Pilipino ay naniniwala, o sang-ayon sa ginagawa ng gobyerno sa WPS. Masaya dahil malaki pero malungkot pa rin ako kasi meron pa ring 17%,” Polizon said during a press conference that Kalayaan invited on Wednesday.
“Sa pagkakataong ito ngayon, kailangan nating gawin yung foolish acts, gawin natin kahit paulit-ulit kahit na magmukha tayong tanga, hindi kami titigil—paulit-ulit nating sasabihin na atin yan, hindi kami titigil,” he said.
Polizon added that the country’s claims are backed by the 2016 international arbitral ruling and existing laws, which they continue to invoke.
He was referring to the July 12, 2016 decision of the Permanent Court of Arbitration, which invalidated China’s nine-dash line claim, affirmed the Philippines’ sovereign rights within its 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ) under United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and clarified that none of the disputed features in the Spratlys generate a full exclusive economic zone, while not ruling on sovereignty over the islands.
“May batas tayo, may effective control tayo, may occupation tayo sa lugar. Malinaw naman sa simula’t simula, atin ang WPS, may Kalayaan, atin ang KIG. Pero bakit nandito tayo sa sitwasyong ganito? Kasi nga, maliban sa merong nanghaharas na hindi natin ma-control dahil malaking bansa,” he said.
“May batas tayo, may effective control tayo, may occupation tayo sa lugar. Malinaw naman sa simula’t simula, atin ang WPS, may Kalayaan, atin ang KIG. Pero bakit nandito tayo sa sitwasyong ganito? Kasi nga, maliban sa merong nanghaharas na hindi natin ma-control dahil malaking bansa,” he said.
He said the 17% who do not support the government’s efforts remain a concern, expressing hope that they will eventually be persuaded.
He added that aside from countering China’s narrative, they also face criticism from fellow Filipinos.
“Nasa laban pa tayo against China sa mga oras na ito, huwag niyo naman sana sabayan na babanatan din kami. Dalawa na ang kalaban natin. Habang kalaban namin ang China, kalaban din natin ang kapwa Pilipino,” he said.
“At kung magre-retaliate tayo sa lahat ng pambabatikos ng kapwa natin Pilipino, tuwang-tuwa yung China, nagpapalakpakan kasi tayo-tayo mismong Pilipino nagsusuntukan, nagkakagatan. Yun naman ang ultimate goal nila e,” he added, saying China would no longer need to deploy its forces if Filipinos turn against each other.
