'Beijing eyes repeal of maritime zones law'

SEN. Francis Tolentino believes that the repeal of the Philippine Maritime Zones Law or Republic Act (RA) 12064 is among Beijing's main objectives in supporting pro-China candidates in next month's elections.

The reelectionist senator said pro-China trolling intensified in social media following the enactment in November 2024 of RA 12064, which Beijing strongly opposed.

"If the Maritime Zones Law is repealed in the next Congress dominated by pro-China lawmakers, our basis to assert our rights in the West Philippine Sea and Talampas (valley) ng Pilipinas will weaken. Our legal basis will be crippled," Tolentino said.

"This will allow China unhampered access to these territories to conduct surveys and exploration in the guise of freedom of navigation," he warned.

If this happens, Tolentino said the Philippines stands to lose its hard-earned victories from The Hague arbitral ruling in 2016 that nullified China's nine-dash line claim, and the signing in 2024 of the Philippine Maritime Zones Law, which is an enforcement of the historic decision.

He said the map for the Talampas ng Pilipinas, a resource-rich undersea rise located in Luzon's eastern seaboard, was officially deposited by government representatives with the International Seabed Authority last March 27 in pursuit of RA 12064.

He said Chinese drones and research vessels have been monitored in the area.

Meanwhile, Tolentino said that the service contract he exposed at a Senate hearing on April 24 involving the Chinese embassy in the Philippines and the public relations firm InfinitUS Marketing Solutions, Inc. is part of a parallel campaign to project "supposedly growing pro-Beijing sentiments" among Filipino netizens.

"This is a campaign that involves the widespread manipulation of the minds that would lead to an eventual control of public perception that what is being propagated is correct and true, in pursuit of Beijing's interest," he said.

Tolentino said the flooding of messages to discredit pro-Filipino candidates amid China's growing aggression in the West Philippine Sea was meant to deceive the public into believing that the views represent genuine sentiments of Filipinos, even if the same are being posted through fake personas operated by the PR firm.

"And this is what we do not want to happen, because it seems that their agenda is to divide and conquer Filipinos gradually, without the need to launch an actual invasion," he said.