Philippine leaders must have a united stand against China's incursions in the West Philippine Sea (WPS), Senator Panfilo Lacson said on Saturday, May 1.

"Ang irony nito at nakakalungkot, sa halip na magtulong-tulong tayong mga Pilipino, especially mga leaders, tayo pa nag-aaway-away sa usaping West Philippine Sea (The sad irony is that instead of coming up with a united front on the WPS issue, Filipinos -- especially our leaders -- are bickering on the issue)," Lacson, who chairs the Senate committee on national defense, said in an interview over DZXL radio.

"Dapat iisa ang position natin. 'Yan ang nagpapakita ng weakness natin sa China (What we need is a united position. Otherwise, we are just showing our weakness, one that China could exploit)," he pointed out.

Before this, the senator lamented on Twitter the word war between President Duterte and former Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio over the WPS issue. Carpio has been vocal against Duterte's "defeatist attitude" toward China's agression.

Lacson said "the WPS has degenerated into into a finger pointing argument" between Carpio and Duterte, "and not Philippines and China".

He also told a netizen that he has been calling out the President about his stand "many times already".

"Hindi ka ba naiiyak, Pilipinas (Doesn't this make you cry, Philippines)?" he tweeted on Friday, April 30.

In his latest statement, Lacson said the country's leaders should start "with upholding our sovereignty and territorial integrity."

He also stressed that China's donation of COVID-19 vaccines should not be linked to the WPS issue, as doing so may cause division and "petty bickering" among Filipinos.

"Dapat walang kinalaman ang dalawa (Both issues should not be connected)," he said.

In the meantime, Lacson reiterated that the Philippines should continue to enhance its ties with its allies including the United States, Japan, Australia and Europe, to maintain a balance of power in the region.

This is despite the country's foreign policy being independent but "seemingly inclined toward China", he said.

The US, he cited, already said that it is prepared to support the Philippines as both countries have a Mutual Defense Treaty. But the Philippines should take the initiative, he maintained.

"The US has indicated it is bound by our Mutual Defense Treaty but it is the Philippines that must make the initiative. The US cannot be more aggressive than we are in the disputed area," Lacson said.