Opposition Senator Leila de Lima said that the issue in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) should be part of the top five platforms of presidential and senatorial candidates in the 2022 elections.

The senator mentioned that this would prove their priority to protect national interests over their own.

Her sentiments were articulated on her behalf by University of the Philippines (UP) and Ateneo Law Professor former Dean Antonio La Viña who represented De Lima during the Online Talk Show "The West Philippine Sea CATCH - The West Philippine Sea and Its Importance as an Election Issue Part 2".

Speaking for De Lima, La Viña said candidates' stand on the WPS issue can be an indicator of their loyalty to the country and their countrymen. The online forum, which was organized by the National Youth Movement for the West Philippine Sea (NYMWPS), was held on Nov. 20.

"Our leaders are vying for the voters' mandate to lead the country and protecting national interests from enemies from within and without has to be the priority and it's really what the West Philippine Sea issue was all about. With all its far-reaching repercussions that I talk about," he said.

As a Senator who is now seeking reelection, De Lima said that she has been firm on her stand on the issue, as she tirelessly called out the Duterte administration's refusal to strongly invoke our sovereign rights over the WPS.

La Viña said that among the far-reaching repercussions of the candidates' refusal to defend the country's territorial integrity include problems on national security and sovereignty, real and immediate economic impact on individual fishermen and the general population, as well as environmental and diplomatic implications.

"You have all of these different issues but they can be tied up in the whole issue of integrity for personal integrity, but also national integrity including of our territory," he said.

Asked how Filipinos, particularly the youth could determine that a certain candidate is sincere in his or her promises while campaigning about the issue on the WPS, La Viña, who stressed that he spoke for De Lima, said the best solution is self-awareness, critical thinking, thorough research, and engagement with others who might have different views.

"Think critically and think like a candidate. If a candidate seems to have so much resources - financial and expertise in manipulating social media algorithms - that could not be adequately explained by their, you know, their party's resources, then remember where the money is coming from. Find out where the money's coming from," he added.

La Viña then encouraged the youth to really come out and understand what's happening in the society.

Last April, De Lima filed Proposed Senate Resolution (SR) No. 694 urging the government's Executive branch to exert all legal and diplomatic actions on the Chinese government to assert Philippine sovereign rights in the WPS.