By Ade S. Fajardo
Last February 4, the Commission on Appointments (CA) had a hearing on the ad-interim appointment of 35 senior officials of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
In that hearing, Senator Rodante Marcoleta proposed to give up the Kalayaan Island Group (KIG) because its features are outside the Philippine exclusive economic zone.
After earning the monicker “tsinador,” Marcoleta has since muddled his own statement despite earlier challenging KIG defenders to a debate.
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Marcoleta now wants to delete or amend his KIG remarks before the CA.
Senator Panfilo Lacson, however, warns that the CA runs the risk of falsifying legislative documents should it accede to the wishes of Senator Marcoleta.
“Falsification of legislative records is punishable under Article 170 of the Revised Penal Code. That is why we must carefully study the legal implications,” Lacson said in a radio interview.
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The exchanges in the Senate have been revealing.
Lacson has demonstrated Philippine sovereignty over the KIG, contrary to Marcoleta’s claims that appear to favor China. Records ineluctably show that the Philippines has consolidated presence in the islands clearly indicating discovery and possession.
This was documented under Presidential Decree (PD) No. 1596 signed by Ferdinand Marcos, Sr. in 1978.
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PD 1596 created the KIG and declared it part of Philippine territory.
It is now a municipality under the jurisdiction of the province of Palawan.
In 2022, residents of the municipality voted Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. for president.
Lacson placed fifth in KIG senatorial elections in May 2025.
Marcoleta placed 24th.
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This political subdivision has never been doubted by Filipinos until Marcoleta expressed his doubts on official record.
In the February hearing, he said Filipinos should not die for a doubtful title.
KIG local executives have appealed to Congress that it expunge Marcoleta’s remarks because the insinuation “effectively ‘orphans’ a legitimate political subdivision of the Republic of the Philippines and mocks the bravery of the men and women stationed at Pag-asa Island and surrounding features.”
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Pag-asa Island is the largest in the group of islands. The Philippine flag is hoisted in the island, which is also home to several uniformed personnel.
Filipino fishermen inhabit the island. It has its own school, clinic and an office for the Commission on Elections.
Scientists have established and maintained the Pag-asa Island Research Station, which aims to be an innovative center of scientific research in the middle of the West Philippine Sea.
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Marcoleta lost the Palawan vote in 2025, ranking only 17th or 10 rungs lower than Lacson’s seventh place.
Can he afford to further offend the voters?
Observers have noticed that his position appears to be hewing closely to the talking points of the Chinese embassy.
In the meantime, dozens of Chinese vessels continue to swarm and stay in Subi Reef near the island. China has made an artificial island, which it has turned into a fully operational naval base.
The records of the CA must remain intact so the voters are constantly reminded which position to uphold respecting the KIG./WDJ