House reso seeking DILG probe on sister city pacts with China filed
Reps. Leila de Lima of ML party-list; Chel Diokno, Perci Cendaña, and Dadah Ismullah of Akbayan party-list; Arlene Bag-ao of Dinagat; and Krisel Lagman of Albay, who called themselves as the West Philippine Sea (WPS) bloc, made the call under House Resolution 39.
The lawmakers, who are all on their first terms as House members, cited Section 7, Article 2 of the 1987 Constitution which recognizes the policy of the State to "pursue an independent foreign policy" and mandates that "in its relations with other states, the paramount consideration shall be national sovereignty, territorial integrity, national interest, and the right to self-determination.'
They also mentioned National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA) Deputy Director General Francisco Ashley Acedillo confirming the existence of Chinese malign influence and foreign interference activities in the Philippines during a Senate inquiry in November 2024,
They also cited a 2024 study of the Ateneo Policy Center about Chinese foreign interference activities in the Philippines stating that "the most likely targets of malign tactics are the Philippines' electoral, legislative, and sub-national governance processes, while the country's current geopolitical context and domestic vulnerabilities render it likely susceptible to these unique forms of statecraft.'
'Now, therefore, it is resolved that the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) be urged to conduct a comprehensive investigation of sister city arrangements with Chinese cities, and similar local government agreements with PRC counterparts, with a view towards rescinding arrangements that are inimical to Philippine national security interests,' they said.
They said the investigation must include, but not limited to, the following areas:
Monitoring and evaluation of all sister city and other local government agreements with China;
Conducting risk assessment to determine malign interference and influence at the subnational level;
Compiling the information gathered and developing a comprehensive database of sister city agreements and other similar arrangements; and,
Coming up with recommendations in aid of revising policy frameworks governing sister cities in the Philippines.
Based on DILG records, there are 16 China-Philippine sister city partnerships. The League of Cities of the Philippines listed 29 Philippine LGU-Chinese city partnerships.
The lawmakers said the lists do not include the three sister-city agreements with Davao City publicly announced by Vice President Sara Duterte and Mayor Sebastian Duterte in 2023.
"Sister-city partnerships ideally provide LGUs with an avenue to foster international cooperation, facilitate knowledge exchange, and promote deeper social-cultural understanding [but] regrettably, there have been reported cases in other states, where sister city agreements were used by the People's Republic of China to exert influence in furtherance of its national security interests,' the lawmakers said.
'These reports of China's "pervasive" malign foreign interference and influence require deeper investigation, and must include a comprehensive assessment of risks and vulnerabilities of China's direct engagement with our local government units,' they added.
They also said the policy framework on sister cities has not been updated since 1997, posing risks that the Philippines should address immediately.
'There are no existing regulations that call for comprehensive databasing, monitoring and evaluation of sister city arrangements. The Philippines, as a sovereign and democratic republic, must respond to these evolving threats with vigilance, transparency, and resolve,' the lawmakers said.
'While international cooperation remains essential, the state must also guard against undue foreign control or manipulation of domestic policies, institutions, and national identity,' they added.
Also on Wednesday, the lawmakers filed a bill mandating the inclusion of the history and legal basis of the Philippines' jurisdiction over the West Philippine Sea in the curriculum of all public and private educational institutions at the primary and secondary level in the country.
They also filed a bill declaring July 12 as the West Philippine Sea Victory Day.
It was on July 12, 2016 when the Hague-based Permanent Court of Arbitration ruled in favor of the Philippines over China's claims in the South China Sea, saying that it had "no legal basis."
The decision also ruled that the Ayungin Shoal, the Spratly Islands, Panganiban or Mischief Reef, and Recto or Reed Bank are within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
'When disinformation attempts to rewrite our history, we answer with education. Our 'WPS Mandatory Education' bill is simple: if they can flood the internet with lies, we will fill our classrooms with facts. Our youth deserve the truth, not historical fiction,' De Lima said.
'Commemorating July 12 as National WPS Victory Day is a reminder that international law is on our side. Panahon nang ipagdiwang ito, hindi lang sa korte, kundi sa puso ng bawat Pilipino,' she added.—AOL, GMA Integrated News
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