JANUARY 4, 2026 — Philippine lawmakers voiced unease Sunday after the United States carried out a surprise operation in Venezuela that led to the capture of President Nicolas Maduro and First Lady Cilia Flores, raising questions about the reach of superpowers and the implications for allies like the Philippines.

Sen. Imee Marcos warned that the incident highlights a troubling pattern of intervention by Washington in countries deemed strategically important. 

“The United States, in particular, has at various points in history been associated with policies that have supported political transitions or leadership changes in countries such as Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya, Panama, Nicaragua, and the Philippines,” she said. 

Marcos added that forcibly removing a head of state “may raise serious questions under international law and could send troubling signals to the international community.”

Sen. Jinggoy Estrada urged caution, stressing that the immediate priority should be the safety of Filipinos in Venezuela. 

“While I stand with those who firmly believe in the peaceful resolution of conflicts, prudence dictates that we allow tensions to subside and more facts to emerge before making definitive pronouncements,” Estrada said. 

He noted that restraint is vital to avoid speculation and escalation, especially as Washington insists the operation was a law-enforcement action.

Mamayang Liberal Party-list Rep. Leila de Lima, however, delivered a sharper rebuke, saying the US strike undermines the Philippines’ moral standing in opposing China’s aggression in the West Philippine Sea. 

“It is most regrettable that the [US] under Trump has once again regressed into an aggressor state not unlike China, Russia, and Israel. The attack on Venezuela and abduction of President [Nicolas] Maduro undermines the rules-based international order, thus setting a terrible precedent of heightened aggression by superpowers,” she said.

De Lima argued that the move “normalizes Russia’s invasion and continued war on Ukraine, China’s expansionist aggression in the South and East China Seas, and Israel’s genocide on the Palestinian people.” She warned that Manila’s alliance with Washington now “reflects poorly on us as well, regardless of our own faithful adherence to international law, simply because the US is our ally.”

The incident has sparked debate over whether the Philippines should reassess its reliance on the US for regional security. Analysts say the development could fuel public discourse on whether alliances with superpowers strengthen or compromise the country’s position in defending sovereignty. 

De Lima called on Congress to convene high-level consultations with defense and foreign affairs officials to craft a strategic response to superpower aggression.

The unfolding crisis in Venezuela has now become a mirror for Filipinos, a reminder that in a world where might often prevails, small nations must decide and know how to stand firm.

(Image: Yahoo)