As WPS issue heats up, Marcoletas invited to visit Kalayaan
Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson on Sunday warned against what he called “homegrown traitors,” amid renewed debate over China’s actions in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) and proposals to give up the Kalayaan Island Group (KIG).
“In geopolitics, the most common sources of information are technical intelligence and homegrown traitors who are willing to sell their country in exchange for what’s in it for them. In intelligence operations, it is called ‘recruitment in place,’” Lacson said in a post on X.
The senator also denounced personal attacks against officials and lawmakers defending Philippine sovereignty.
He called as “uncalled for” a social media post by SAGIP Party-list Rep. Paolo Henry Marcoleta suggesting that a Philippine Coast Guard spokesperson and several senators be used as “cannon fodder” in a war with China.
“The son also rises with his own ad hominem. Suggesting to use the PCG spokesman and some senators as cannon fodder if China declares war against the Philippines is uncalled for,” Lacson said, referring to Marcoleta, son of Sen. Rodante Marcoleta.
“He should visit Pag-asa Island in the Kalayaan Island Group and see for himself the functioning local government there,” he added.
Amid the controversy, Philippine Coast Guard WPS spokesperson Commodore Jay Tarriela invited the elder Marcoleta to join a future maritime domain awareness (MDA) flight to the KIG.
“Let us give Senator Marcoleta a chance. I suggest that the good senator join the MDA flight to the Kalayaan Island Group in the future,” Tarriela said, adding the visit would allow him “to stand for our rights in the West Philippine Sea.”
Separately, Sen. Erwin Tulfo urged lawmakers to fast-track Senate Bill No. 1625, or the proposed West Philippine Sea Education Act, to counter disinformation and strengthen public understanding of maritime rights.
“We have to act now. Despite being a critical point of Philippine sovereignty, many Filipinos are seemingly in the dark about the West Philippine Sea,” said Tulfo, the new chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. “Time is of the essence.”
Lacson’s remarks followed backlash against Sen. Marcoleta over statements suggesting the Philippines could give up the KIG because some of its features lie beyond the country’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
The younger Marcoleta accused advocates of a strong WPS stance of being traitors and said the issue could not be fought through “posturing” or hashtags.
Lacson stressed that the Kalayaan Islands is a municipality of Palawan with an operating local government unit, a school, and Filipino residents.
Recalling his 2021 visit to Pag-asa Island, he said he personally saw Chinese Coast Guard vessels in nearby waters and urged Filipino Marines to continue challenging foreign ships.
“I told them to keep challenging the Chinese vessels because they are testing them and would likely enter if not challenged. That would be an invasion because there are Filipinos living in Pag-asa,” he said.
Lacson reiterated that abandoning the KIG would amount to surrendering national territory. “‘Giving up’ the Kalayaan Island Group is no different from giving up Luzon Island or the entire country,” he said, citing international law principles of “res nullius” (property belonging to no one) or “terra nullius” (unoccupied or uninhabited land).
He noted that lawyer and adventurer Tomas Cloma discovered and occupied the islands before turning them over to the Philippine government.
“Yan ang hindi ko mapalampas (That I cannot let slide),” Lacson said, adding that he could not accept claims that KIG should be abandoned simply because it lies outside the EEZ.
“Hindi ko matatanggap ‘yan dahil may mga Pilipinong nakatira sa Pag-asa Island (I can’t accept that because Filipinos are living on Pag-asa),” he added.
Marcoleta later said his remarks were taken out of context, explaining that he was referring to technical issues related to listing the WPS with the International Hydrographic Organization.
“This is not possible because it would violate the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, unless of course we give up the Kalayaan Island Group to solve the problem,” he said.
Meanwhile, Tulfo’s bill seeks to integrate age-appropriate WPS instruction in basic and higher education, involving DepEd, CHED, DFA, NAMRIA, and other agencies.
“We can only fight for our rights if we know what those rights are,” Tulfo added.
Maritime law expert Jay Batongbacal criticized calls to give up the KIG as “unacceptable” and dangerous to national security, saying such statements weaken the Philippines’ position and reinforce China’s claims.
“They are deceiving the people into giving up something that is already theirs by right,” Batongbacal said.
Editor’s Note: This is an updated article. Originally posted with the headline: “Lacson: ‘Cannon fodder’ jab vs. WPS advocates ‘uncalled for’”
