Ejercito: ‘Wag maging Makapili!’

Senate Deputy Majority Leader Joseph Victor "JV" Ejercito on Wednesday called out Filipinos whom he said are blatantly supporting pro-China narratives amid the escalating tension in the West Philippine Sea.

Without naming names, Ejercito stressed that there is nothing wrong with being patriotic, clarifying that he is not siding with any other foreign countries.

"There is nothing wrong with being patriotic. I am not pro-US, I am pro-Filipino," he said in a tweet on the social media site X (formerly known as Twitter).

"Our territories are being taken away in front of us, yet there are other groups that are condemning those who are criticizing China's bullying," he added.

He continued: "Wag maging Makapili."

The Makapili or the Makabayang Kalipunan ng mga Pilipino (League of Patriotic Filipinos) spied on their fellow Filipinos to serve the Japanese during World War II.

The Makapili, with his face and head hidden inside the bayong, a native bag, points out their fellow Filipinos whom they were accused of being guerrilla fighters to the Imperial Japanese Army.

Earlier this week, Philippine Coast Guard spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Jay Tarriela warned against "pro-China narratives" being spread by some groups to divert attention from Beijing's aggression in the West Philippine Sea.

"Ironically, these individuals claim to be pro-Filipino while promoting Chinese narratives and even contradicting factual reports from Philippine authorities," he said.
"Ultimately, their proposed solutions amount to accommodating China's unreasonable and illegal claims, rather than seeking fair and just resolutions that safeguard our national interests," he added.

Among the most used narratives of these pro-China groups, according to Tarriela, was the claim that being vocal about China's aggressions in the WPS "will lead us into a war."

"Exposing China's aggression is not inciting war. By keeping our political leaders and countrymen aware of China's violations of international law, we are safeguarding our country from political manipulation and disinformation," the PCG spokesman said.