One of the main arguments of Pseudo Filipino nationalists who are opposed to the idea of engaging with China in the SCS is because according to them, any deals with China in the SCS will "Violate" the Philippine constitution
Meanwhile, These same Pseudo Filipino nationalists are strangely Silent when other factions aside from China are brazenly violating the country's constitution
For example, the Philippine constitution declares:
The separation of Church and State shall be inviolable. (Article II, Section 6), and, No law shall be made respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.
However, immediately the very own constitution contradicts itself by explicitly giving favorable treatment to Muslims
So now, the Muslims continue to push to see how far they can go with these special privileges. Again, it is enshrined in the Philippine constitution that there is a separation of church and state, but now, Taxpayer's money will be used to build and operate Islamic Madrasas, again, in complete violation of the Philippine constitution
But surprisingly, the China hawks who claim to be the vanguard of the country's sovereignty and constitution are nowhere to be found .
So the bottom line is that Filipinos are willing to turn a blind eye to flagrant violations of their own constitution if they really want to