QUEZON CITY, Philippines — Lanao del Sur 1st District Representative Zia Alonto Adiong urged prospective candidates for the 2028 national elections to present clear platforms on defending Philippine sovereignty and territorial integrity, particularly regarding ongoing tensions with China in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).
Speaking at a media forum on Saturday, September 26, the House prosecution panel spokesperson emphasized that foreign policy and territorial defense should take center stage in national debates as the presidential race approaches.
“I think itong issue po ng China vis-à-vis ang ating interest, territorial interest, dapat ’to central, maging central po ito sa diskusyon kung sino po man ’yung may balak na maging leader ng ating bansa,” Adiong said.
He stressed that voters deserve to know where future national leaders stand regarding the country’s maritime territories.
“It should be a central issue for those who are, you know, offering their services and offering themselves to the Filipino public,” he noted.
“Dahil unang-una, how can you be a commander-in-chief, a head of the government and head of state when you are all as well serving the interest of your adversary over certain areas in the [WPS]?” he added.
Adiong clarified that addressing national security concerns should not fuel anti-Chinese sentiment, pointing out that Manila maintains valuable economic and bilateral ties with Beijing.
“We don’t want to generate, you know, anti-Chinese sentiments, kasi hindi po ’yun tama. Kasi we also have existing bilateral economic ties with China,” he explained.
“But when it comes to a specific issue concerning sovereignty, territorial integrity, I think dapat klaro po ’yun sa magiging susunod na mga leader natin,” Adiong added.
To demonstrate that national security risks extend beyond maritime borders, Adiong pointed to findings from the House quad-committee’s 19th Congress inquiries into illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs). The investigation highlighted the case of former Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo (also known as Guo Hua Ping), who was revealed to be a Chinese citizen and subsequently convicted in November 2025 of qualified human trafficking.
While congressional hearings raised allegations that Guo served as a foreign operative, no judicial ruling has established espionage charges against her. Nevertheless, Adiong argued that the case exposed vulnerabilities in internal security.
“Kung titingnan po natin, hindi lang po actually ’yung ating sovereignty ang napag-uusapan. But if you go back to the testimonies that we have gathered during the QuadCom, it’s sad to say that na-infiltrate po tayo sa loob,” he stated.
He concluded that the lesson should remain top-of-mind for voters evaluating candidates ahead of the next presidential election cycle.
“Hindi lang po tayo naka-elect ng isang Chinese national, pero hindi po ma-erode ang ating ekonomiya by advancing illicit and illegal activities of some Chinese elements,” Adiong said.