Senate President Pro Tempore Ping Lacson Reacts To Controversial Remarks of Sen. Rodante Marcoleta over Kalayaan Island Group
PING LACSON – The Senate President Pro Tempore expressed his support to the removal of Sen. Rodante Marcoleta’s remakrs from the Senate records.
Recently, minority Sen. Rodante Marcoleta earned massive criticism after he reportedly raised an opinion that the Philippines may consider “giving up” the Kalayaan Group of Islands. The remarks of the minority Senator came amid the China and the Philippines ongoing territorial dispute.
China did not step back from its claims over the West Philippine Sea despite the 2016 Arbritral Tribunal ruling that backed the Philippines. In fact, recently, the incidents in the disputed island have seemingly taken a different level.
There were already instances when China’s water cannons fired at the Philippine vessels in the disputed island. Pentagon previously warned that the ramming incidents in the WPS might escalate.
On his remarks that the Philippines may consider “giving up” the Kalayaan Island Group, he argued that some of the features of the said portion of the disputed island supposedly lie beyond the 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone or EEZ of the Philippines.
The remarks of the minority Senator earned him massive criticisms. Amid the backlash, he defended his statement.
“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,” Marcoleta said.
Recently, Senate President Pro Tempore Ping Lacson reacted to the controversial remarks of Sen. Rodante Marcoleta that the Philippines may consider giving up the Kalayaan group of islands. The Senator expressed his support on the removal of the statement of his colleague from the Senate records.
âI agree. Nasa minutes âyan ng Commission on Appointments. Pangit âyun,” Lacson said.
Amid his support on the removal of the remarks of Sen. Rodante Marcoleta from the Senate records, Senate President Pro Tempore Ping Lacson stressed that the matter still depends on the discussion of the entire Commission on Appointments. Marcoleta issued the remarks during the commission’s hearing for Armed Forces of the Philippines generals.
According to Sen. Ping Lacson, the statement of Sen. Rodante Marcoleta allegedly weakens the position of the Philippines on the territorial dispute. He stressed that it came right from a Senator.
“Hindi puwedeng magdesisyon diyan ang hindi majority ng Commission on Appointments… Definitely, kasi nanggaling sa senador mismo at nandun sa record, medyo ma-weaken ang position natin dahil nasa record,â Lacson said.
Based on a report on PhilStar, Senate President Ping Lacson issued a warning against the alleged “homegrown traitors”. According to the Senator, they are allegedly vulnerable targets who are willing to sell out the Philippines for their personal interest. He claimed that he is not referring to anyone in specificity and that he’s only discussing the general principles of geopolitics and intelligence.
Recently, Jay Tarriela, the spokesperson of the PH Coast Guard, issued an invitation to Sen. Rodante Marcoleta to join a mission flight to the West Philippine Sea.