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.
📷: Bombo Radyo
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.
Photo Source: Philstar
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
the Senator claimed.
📷: ABS-CBN
“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.
Photo Courtesy of PhilStar
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