Stratbase Institute President and CEO Victor Andres “Dindo” Manhit on Thursday cautioned against any “soft stance” on the West Philippine Sea, stressing that foreign policy should remain anchored on Philippine national interests.
In a chance interview during the Navigating Digital Crossroads: Advancing Cybersecurity and Democratic Resilience in the Indo-Pacific forum, Manhit urged potential 2028 presidential candidates to maintain a strong stance against foreign interference in the country.
“So, we need candidates to remember that. There’s no soft position. There should be a strong position against any foreign interference in our country,” he said.
“There should be no weak position on any attempt by foreign government to shape our destiny. Because our destiny is not about the West, it’s not about China. It’s about the destiny of the Filipino people,” the Stratbase chief added.
Manhit issued this statement after Vice President Sara Duterte on Wednesday announced her intention to run for president in 2028.
On February 13, Duterte made a conscious stance on the escalating public exchanges between the Chinese Embassy in Manila and some Philippine legislators, noting that matters involving diplomacy and foreign affairs should be handled by the Office of the President and the Department of Foreign Affairs.
VP Sara also clarified that she was not aware of the heated exchanges but asserted that it is important for the Philippines to mend relations with neighboring countries amid the public exchanges.
Manhit also encouraged the public to be cautious of potential candidates who may shift their positions during election season, urging voters to see who remain consistent in their views.
“Maybe we need to remind the public who these people are. Or maybe they got elected so suddenly they’ve become pro-China. When they were running, they were all about ‘Atin ang West Philippine Sea’ (The West Philippine Sea is ours),” Manhit said.
“So, we have to remind our electorate. Consistency. You cannot suddenly change position when you’re running,” the analyst added.
The two-day Stratbase event in partnership with the Canadian Embassy in the Philippines gathers government leaders, military officials, experts, and civil society groups to tackle how the Philippines and its international partners can move beyond basic defense to build a collective shield against hybrid threats and foreign interference operations.
