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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider It's not a call to arms, Robes says of 'fight for your country' OCTA Research poll 

It's not a call to arms, Robes says of 'fight for your country' OCTA Research poll 

Published Mar 11, 2024 10:28 am

At A Glance

  • San Jose del Monte City lone district Rep. Florida "Rida" Robes said the results of the  OCTA Research survey, which indicated that 77 percent of adult Filipinos were willing to fight a foreign enemy in case of conflict, shouldn't be interpreted as a call to arms.

IMG-1d862b66f30487c372dac3671392734d-V-01.jpeg(Ellson Quismorio/ MANILA BULLETIN)



It's a "love of country index", not a call to arms.

That's how San Jose del Monte City lone district Rep. Florida "Rida" Robes described the results of the OCTA Research survey, which indicated that 77 percent of adult Filipinos are willing to fight a foreign enemy, should conflict arise.

"It is a 'patriotic gauge' which shows that when summoned to serve, Filipinos will do so willingly. That s a 'love of country index' which should put to rest doubts that Filipinos are hesitant to fight for the flag," Robes, a member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, said in a statement Monday, March 11.

"it is our countrymen articulating their agreement to what they have been singing with fervor—'sa manlulupig, 'di ka pasisiil (to the oppressor, you will not yield)'," she added of the Dec. 10 to 14, 2023 survey.

"But this should not be viewed as a call to arms and an abandonment of the use of diplomatic means to resolve disputes," Robes said, as she echoed President Marcos' stance to settle territorial disputes in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) through a peaceful resolution.

Tensions are arguably as high as ever in the WPS, where China's bigger vessels have been harassing the smaller vessels of the Philippines.

In the poll, OCTA Research posed this question to 1,200 adult respondents: "If there is a conflict between the Philippines and a foreign enemy, are you ready to fight for your country?"

This was translated to: "Kung magkakaroon ng kaguluhan sa pagitan ng Pilipinas at dayuhang kalaban, handa ka bang lumaban para sa iyong bansa?"

The poll was conducted promptly after a China Coast Guard (CCG) vessel fired a water cannon at ships of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) headed to Scarborough Shoal.

The next day, the CCG water cannoned Philippine vessels on a regular rotation and resupply mission to the BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal.

AFP chief General Romeo Brawner Jr. was on board one of the vessels, the Unaizah Mae (UM) 1, which was rammed by a CCG vessel.

Robes chairs the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability.

Related Tags

OCTA Research call to arms florida rida robes West Philippine Sea
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