SENATE President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson backed a move by Kalayaan town in Palawan to expunge from the records of the Commission on Appointments the remarks of Sen. Rodante Marcoleta suggesting that the Philippines “give up” the Kalayaan Island Group to China.
But Lacson said there should first be a formal motion to the effect addressed to Senate President Vicente Sotto III in his capacity as chairman of the Commission on Appointments (CA).
“A motion to strike off the records of the CA is needed. A letter addressed to CA Chairman Senate President Vicente Sotto III through the CA Defense Committee Chairman will serve as a strong basis for such a motion,” he said.
The Municipality of Kalayaan had sent to the Office of the Senate President this week its Resolution 099-016 of 2026, expressing vigorous indignation and protesting the remarks of Sen. Marcoleta suggesting that the Philippines “give up” the Kalayaan Island Group.
It also petitioned the CA to “expunge such defeatist sentiments from the congressional records to preserve the dignity and integrity of our municipality.”
Lacson, in an earlier interview, noted that the Philippines’ position on the KIG could be weakened if Marcoleta’s remarks remain in the records.
“Definitely. Kasi nanggaling sa isang senador mismo at nandoon sa record mawe-weaken ang position natin maski papano di ba kasi nasa record. Mas maganda matanggal yan sa record ng CA (Definitely because that remark came from a senator and it may weaken our position. It is better if it is removed from the CA’s records),” he said in an interview on DZBB radio, when asked if he supports the move to expunge Marcoleta’s “give up Kalayaan” remark from the records.
“I’d like to believe hindi niya mine-mean exactly sinabi niya pero napakaliwanag sinabi niya, ‘give up’ natin para wala tayong problema. Ano ba interpretation nyo pag sinabing give up natin? Give up, ibigay na lang para walang gulo (I’d like to believe Marcoleta did not mean what he exactly said, but his ‘give up’ remarks are on the record. How else can we interpret his statements, other than to give up the Kalayaan Islands to avoid trouble with China),” he added.
During the CA committee hearing earlier this month, Lacson countered Marcoleta’s suggestion that the Philippines give up the KIG by citing “res nullius,” a long-standing legal principle supporting the Philippines’ ownership of the KIG.
Under “res nullius,” whoever discovers and occupies the land is recognized as its owner. Lacson noted Tomas Cloma, who discovered the Spratlys, turned over the ownership of the land to the Philippine government, and that there are Filipino families now occupying the KIG, a town in Palawan.
Lacson recalled that House members of the CA thanked him for countering Marcoleta’s suggestion after the CA hearing, “para ma-clear the air (to clear the air).”
