Fishermen join the second Atin Ito-led civilian mission to Scarborough Shoal on May 16, 2024. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News/File

MANILA — Although Filipinos have expressed firm support for leaders who would take a stand for the country's waters, the narrative of "pro-China" candidates was not fully fleshed out and it is still unclear to many voters who these might be, OCTA Research said Saturday.

Prof. Ranjit Rye, OCTA Research founder and president, emphasized on Saturday during the People’s Impeachment Movement's "Hatol ng Bayan: Eleksyon 2025" webinar that it remains vague which specific candidates lean towards China's interests.

What do they mean when they talk about ‘Pro-China’ candidates?

He said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr's speech at the Alyansa campaign rally in Laoag in Ilocos Norte, which detailed a strong stance against supposed "pro-China" candidates, did not flourish during the whole campaign period.

"Dahil ang presidente lang talaga nag-articulate at si Senator [Francis] Tolentino, hindi siya masyado na-develop as a campaign theme. Hindi na-identify kung sino 'yung mga pro-China," Rye said.

(Because only the President articulated it, and Sen. Tolentino, it was not really developed as a campaign them. They didn't say who is 'pro-China')

The former majority PDP-Laban party has a cooperation agreement with the Communist Party of China. PDP-Laban officials met with representatives of the CPC's International Department in Pasay City in 2023.

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'9 OF EVERY 10 VOTERS WILL REJECT BETS SOFT ON WEST PHILIPPINE SEA'

In majority of surveys conducted by various firms, including OCTA, respondents said they would not back pro-China candidates in the midterm polls on Monday.

"It's safe to say three things. [First], we came up with the survey towards the 4th quarter last year, basically saying about 9 out of 10 [of Filipinos] will not vote candidates who will not defend or assert our rights in [the West Philippine Sea] in an OCTA study," Rye said.

He said that the maritime issue has grown in importance to Filipinos, with "18 percent of our voters (saying they) will vote for a candidate who has a clear pro-Philippines stand in West Philippines Sea."

This was up from just one percent last year, he said.

But Rye explained there was no clear distinction as to who really supports China's interests among the candidates.

He said this could be a "strategic move" by some candidates, including those in the administration's Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas.

"Hindi klaro sa mga ating candidates the way they run their campaign to articulate 'yung theme na in-articulate ni President sa Laoag speech niya," he said.

(They do not make it clear in the way they run their campaign. They do not articulate it the same way the President did in his Laoag speech)

Marcos Jr. said in Laoag that none on his Alyansa slate are cheerleaders for China, but many of the administration candidates were also in power during the Duterte administration, when the PDP-Laban partnership with the CPC was inked.

"Pero all other candidates wala ka naman talagang nakita na strong position on West Philippine Sea... Sa two dominant groups," Rye added.

(But none of the other candidates have a strong position on the West Philippine Sea.... that goes for the two dominant groups)

Most of the messaging against "pro-China" candidates has come from administration allies at the House of Representatives.

'SOME FRONT-RUNNERS HAVE NO CLEAR POSITION ON WPS'

China is not the top issue for Filipino voters, Rye said, with priority being on prices, healthcare and food security.

The 18 percent score for the West Philippine Sea is still significant, he said, noting however, some candidates leading pre-election surveys have a "pro-China position" or do not have a clear position on the West Philippine Sea.

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"Sa West Philippine Sea, klarong-klaro mga kababayan natin. Ayaw nila ng pro-China, ayaw nila ng isang kandidato na hindi ipaglalaban ang ating karapatan, ang ating teritoryo sa West Philippines Sea," he said.

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