29th Parliamentary-Intelligence Security Forum – Special Remarks
Hon. Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez, delivered special remarks at the 29th Parliamentary Intelligence-Security Forum in Madrid, expressing his honor to join global leaders at a time of seismic shifts in geopolitics, technology, and regional security. He emphasized that the forum serves as a vital platform for parliamentarians and experts to deepen cooperation, exchange insights, and uphold international stability and peace.He recalled that earlier this year, the Philippines hosted the 28th Forum in Manila, which focused on three pillars: upholding international law in resolving territorial disputes, strengthening global supply chains for critical resources such as lithium batteries, and regulating emerging technologies to prevent exploitation by malign actors. He stressed that global challenges require coordinated global responses, with parliamentarians at the forefront of shaping resilient, rules-based solutions.
Romualdez reaffirmed the Philippines’ steadfast commitment to protecting its rights in the West Philippine Sea in accordance with the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and the 2016 South China Sea Arbitral Award. He underscored that the country rejects coercion and disinformation, anchoring its approach on legal clarity, diplomacy, partnerships, and the peaceful settlement of disputes. Addressing broader security threats, he highlighted the rise of misinformation, cyberattacks, hybrid warfare, artificial intelligence weaponization, and cryptocurrency-enabled illicit networks. He noted that during the 45th General Assembly of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly, the Philippine delegation led a resolution promoting regional collaboration on responsible AI development aligned with ASEAN’s digital master plan. He concluded by expressing gratitude to Spain and forum leaders for hosting the gathering and called for unity, vigilance, and collective legislative action to safeguard democracy, security, and global cooperation.
