Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson on Saturday warned against what he described as “homegrown traitors,” or Filipinos who are willing to sell the country in exchange for personal gain.
Lacson – who has spent more than five decades in public service, almost half of which doing intelligence work – said such individuals, alongside technical intelligence, are the most common sources of information in geopolitics.
“In geopolitics, the most common sources of information are technical intelligence and homegrown traitors who are willing to sell their country in exchange for what’s in it for them. In intelligence operations, it is called ‘recruitment in place,'” he said in a post on X.
In Filipino: Lacson, Nagpahayag ng Pag-aalala sa mga ‘Homegrown’ na Banta sa Pambansang Soberanya
In geopolitics, the most common sources of information are technical intelligence and homegrown traitors who are willing to sell their country in exchange for what’s in it for them. In intelligence operations, it is called, “recruitment in place”.
— PING LACSON (@iampinglacson) February 7, 2026
Earlier, Lacson rejected a suggestion to give up the Kalayaan Island Group (KIG), which he said is no different from surrendering Luzon or even the entire country.
“Giving up” the Kalayaan Island Group (KIG) is no different from giving up Luzon Island or the entire country. Under international law, first discovery and possession of land that belongs to no one under the legal principle of ‘res nullius’ or ‘terra nullius’ is a recognized mode…
— PING LACSON (@iampinglacson) February 7, 2026
During the Commission on Appointments’ hearing last Wednesday, he countered Sen. Rodante Marcoleta’s suggestion that the Philippines give up the KIG by citing a long-standing legal principle supporting the Philippines’ ownership of the KIG.
He pointed out that lawyer and adventurer Tomas Cloma discovered the Spratly islands and occupied them as under “res nullius,” whoever discovers and occupies the land is recognized as its owner. Cloma turned over the ownership of the land to the Philippine government. There are currently Filipino families occupying the KIG, a town in Palawan which Lacson visited in 2021.
Lacson, who served in the Philippine Constabulary and as Chief of the Philippine National Police and now as Senator, has long been vocal in defending the Philippines’ sovereign rights in the West Philippine Sea, including against bullying in the area by China.
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Lacson, Nagpahayag ng Pag-aalala sa mga ‘Homegrown’ na Banta sa Pambansang Soberanya
Nagbabala si Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson nitong Sabado laban sa mga tinawag niyang “homegrown traitors,” o mga Pilipinong handang ibenta ang Pilipinas kapalit ng pansariling pakinabang.
Ani Lacson – na mahigit limang dekada nang naglilingkod sa bayan kung saan halos kalahati nito ay ginugol sa intelligence work – ang ganitong mga traydor, kasama ng technical intelligence, ang pinakakaraniwang pinanggagalingan ng impormasyon sa geopolitics.
“In geopolitics, the most common sources of information are technical intelligence and homegrown traitors who are willing to sell their country in exchange for what’s in it for them. In intelligence operations, it is called ‘recruitment in place,’” ani Lacson sa kanyang post sa X.
Nito ring Sabado, mariing tinutulan ni Lacson ang mungkahi na isuko ang Kalayaan Island Group (KIG), na aniya’y walang pinagkaiba sa pagsuko ng Luzon o maging ng buong bansa.
Sa pagdinig ng Commission on Appointments noong nakaraang Miyerkules, kinontra ni Lacson ang mungkahi ni Sen. Rodante Marcoleta na isuko ng Pilipinas ang KIG sa pamamagitan ng pagbanggit sa matagal nang umiiral na legal na prinsipyo na sumusuporta sa pagmamay-ari ng Pilipinas sa KIG.
Ipinaliwanag niya na ang abogado at adventurer na si Tomas Cloma ang nakatuklas sa Spratly Islands at sinakop ang mga ito sa ilalim ng prinsipyo ng “res nullius,” kung saan ang sinumang makatuklas at makapanakop sa lupain ay kinikilalang may-ari nito. Kalaunan, isinuko ni Cloma ang pagmamay-ari ng nasabing lupain sa pamahalaan ng Pilipinas.
Sa kasalukuyan, may Pilipino ang naninirahan sa KIG, isang bayan sa Palawan na binisita ni Lacson noong 2021.
Matagal na ring pinagtatanggol ni Lacson – na nagsilbi sa Philippine Constabulary at bilang Philippine National Police Chief at ngayon ay Senador – ang soberanong karapatan ng Pilipinas sa West Philippine Sea, kabilang ang pagtutol sa pambu-bully ng China sa lugar.
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