Lacson warns vs ‘homegrown traitors’ amid West Philippine Sea dispute

February 9, 2026 | 12:00am

MANILA, Philippines —  Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson yesterday raised the possibility of homegrown traitors operating within the Philippine government, warning that foreign powers often utilize “recruitment in place” to infiltrate rival nations and shape local narratives.

Drawing from his extensive background in intelligence work, Lacson explained that this method is far more effective for foreign entities than deploying deep penetration agents, which requires years of language training and cover-building.

“Instead of building a project and sending a deep penetration agent, it’s a bit tedious…whereas if it was recruited in place, it’s already there,” he told radio dzBB.

The senator issued the statement when asked if Filipino officials and social media personalities echoing Beijing’s propaganda on the West Philippine Sea could be considered traitors.

Lacson described these individuals as vulnerable targets who are willing to sell out their country for personal gain.

“Those they can recruit are the traitors. The ones who would sell out their own country for personal gains, because they are looking at how it would benefit them,” he said.

Lacson said “recruiting in place” could successfully penetrate even government officials high up in the ladder of the bureaucracy, citing how a Venezuelan general was supposedly recruited by the United States.

However, Lacson clarified that he was speaking on the general principles of geopolitics and intelligence, rather than directly accusing specific colleagues often tagged by critics as “Tsinadors” or pro-China senators.

In a post on X, Lacson slammed Sen. Rodante Marcoleta’s son, Rep. Paolo Henry, for suggesting that Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) spokesman on West Philippine Sea issues Commodore Jay Tarriela and other senators be used as “cannon fodder” or frontliners should China declare war on the Philippines.

The younger Marcoleta made the comment in a Facebook post on Feb. 6, claiming that those advocating a “pro-Philippine stance” through “posturing” were effectively traitors putting the country at risk.

Lacson dismissed the remark as an “ad hominem” attack that diverted from the substantive issues of national territory.

“The son also rises with his own ad hominem. Suggesting to use the PCG spokesman and some senators as cannon fodder if China declares war against the Philippines is uncalled for,” Lacson said.

Lacson’s remarks came amid heightened scrutiny of the older Marcoleta, whose remarks during a confirmation hearing of colonels and captains of the Armed Forces at the Senate stoked anger among nationalists.

Senator Marcoleta earlier suggested that the Philippines consider relinquishing the Kalayaan Group of Islands, saying its features are “way beyond” the country’s exclusive economic zone.

Lacson warned that failing to challenge Chinese incursions near Pag-asa would be tantamount to allowing an invasion of inhabited Philippine territory.

WPS Education Act

Meanwhile, foreign relations committee chair Erwin Tulfo urged the upper chamber to fast-track Senate Bill No. 1625, or the “West Philippine Sea (WPS) Education Act,” citing a widespread lack of knowledge about the country’s maritime rights.

Tulfo warned that without a specialized curriculum, the youth remain vulnerable to propaganda that undermines the country’s legal victory in the South China Sea arbitration.