Even if it pushed through, there may be points of concern in a debate between President Rodrigo Duterte and former Justice Antonio Carpio on the West Philippine Sea, Sen. Panfilo Lacson said Friday.
Lacson said such concerns include what Filipinos can gain from such a debate, amid the potential of the debate worsening divisiveness among the people.
“On one hand, a question comes to mind: What do we gain from the debate, assuming that it pushes through? One other dire outcome is further divisiveness that only China will benefit from,” he said in a statement.
Duterte earlier challenged Carpio to a debate on the issue, with Carpio accepting. On Friday afternoon, presidential spokesman Harry Roque Jr. said Duterte had assigned him to face Carpio instead.
The prospect of the debate had ignited exchanges between Duterte’s and Carpio’s supporters and critics, including on social media.
Lacson noted a public debate is always healthy in a democratic environment, “as long as it is limited to the issue at hand, and does not go down to the gutter level.”
On the other hand, he said he can imagine the anticipated excitement on the part of the Chinese while watching all these developments “as they continue to be busy surveying more shoals within our exclusive economic zone that they can build more garrisons to pursue their expansionist agenda in the West Philippines Sea.”
“That said, the hype surrounding the debate should not distract us into allowing the Chinese to sneak into our territory while we argue among ourselves. That would be the last thing we need for our sovereignty and territorial integrity,” he added.
Source: Latest Politics News Today (Politics.com.ph)
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