Statement of Malacañang on Sen. Rodante Marcoleta’s “Giving up” Opinion on Kalayaan Island Group
Malacañang reacted to the controversial remarks of Senator Rodante Marcoleta over the Kalayaan Group of Islands.
Recently, countless Filipinos reacted to the statement of Sen. Rodante Marcoleta that the Philippines may consider “giving up” the Kalayaan Group of Islands. According to him, the said part of the West Philippine Sea supposedly lie beyond the 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone or EEZ of the Philippines.
Many Filipinos were left disappointed over the statement of Marcoleta which was made during the hearing of the Commission on Appeals of the generals of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. His statement came amid the ongoing territorial feud between China and the Philippines.
In 2016, the Arbitral Tribunal released a ruling siding the Philippines on the territorial dispute over the West Philippine Sea. However, China did not recognize the ruling of the tribunal.
Amid the backlash, Sen. Rodante Marcoleta defended his statement about the Kalayaan Island Group. The Philippine Coast Guard invited Marcoleta to join a mission flight to the West Philippine Sea.
“I informed them that for the West Philippine Sea to be listed in the International Hydrographic Organization, we would need to deposit maps with the United Nations to notify the world that we are usurping part of the high seas by including the Kalayaan Island Group, since it lies beyond our exclusive economic zone,” the Senator claimed.
Recently, Malacañang was asked about the stand of the Palace over the controversial remarks of Sen. Rodante Marcoleta about the Kalayaan Island Group. Based on a report on ABS-CBN News, Palace press officer undersecretary Claire Castro claimed that the Senator’s remarks is not an element of treason.
“Alam naman po natin, ang isa sa elemento po ng treason ay dapat po na mayroong actual state of war so wala naman po tayo sa ngayon na—wala po tayo sa estado ng actual state of war,” Castro said.
Based on the report, Malacañang press official further said that Sen. Rodante Marcoleta’s remarks is within his freedom of speech. Accordng to the Palace official, the senators were just fulfilling their jobs with whatever they have debated on in the Senate.
“Unang-una, kung anuman po ang napagdedebatihan sa Senado, ginagampanan lang nila ang kanilang tungkulin at mayroon po tayong sinasabi na freedom of expression,” the Malacañang press official said.
However, as for Senate President Pro Tempore Ping Lacson, he supports the removal of the statement of Sen. Rodante Marcoleta from the Senate records.